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NGERINGA Pinot Noir 2010
Grown on our steep easterly facing Summit vineyard slope at 360m above sea level on a delicate soil of sandy loam over clay. In the distance, this vineyard overlooks Lake Alexandrina and the Murray mouth, consequently receiving cooling evening breezes which do much to preserve our fruit acids and flavours through the critical weeks of ripening.
TASTING NOTES A more refined version of Pinot Noir than our previous vintage, but maintaining many of the classic dried French herb characteristics. Thyme, marjoram, tarragon and lavender notes against a flinty, lit-match aroma. A velvety tannic structure with tight acidity and the fragrant lift of carbonic maceration. Violet crumble, plums and forest floor spiciness. Thoroughly integrated oak retains the elegance of the fruit at the forefront of this wine. The finish is long with a dry minerality.
WINEMAKING NOTES Fermented with about 15% whole bunch. Matured in approximately 14% new oak for 11 months. Wild fermentation, no enzymes, oxidative handling pre-fermentation, reserved use of oak barrels, spontaneous malolactic fermentation, gentle extraction, warmer fermentation, minimal and rare temperature control. Minimal fining. Estate bottled. Small amount of Sulphites added before bottling.
VINTAGE NOTES The 2010 growing season was a kinder one than previous with a wet, cool spring following a mild winter of average rainfall. A cool start to September however halted voracious growth and delayed budburst of the Rhone varietals. A thick harvest of hay was cut in early November thanks to the good spring rains. The onset of summer brought with it the usual heat spikes with the last this year being early February. The few weeks leading in to harvest were ideal, warm even days with cool nights typical of the Mt Barker Summit. The fruit ripened steadily and easily, and harvest began the last week of February. Of note for us was the absence of LBAM or weevil damage. The fruit across the vineyard was in excellent condition and was generous in quantity. It was a year for wines of gentile fragrance, politely spoken flavours and defined structure.
REVIEWS MIKE BENNIE www.winefront.com.au 4 October 2012 I have to assume this fruit comes from Ngeringa’s Mt Barker Springs East vineyard, but know that biodynamics are used for all growing. Erinn and Janet Klein of Ngeringa are known for their exacting vineyard work and pursuit of terroirist ambitions. It’s a cool site, nonetheless, and the fruit is treated with kid gloves, minimal oak and no additions save a dash of SO2 before bottling. Feel the love. It’s always exciting see new release wines from this producer. Has a great sous bois, forest floor kind of vibe – brambly black berries, dark plum join in. Flavours and aromas mesh neatly across this part feral, part elegant spectrum of descriptors, and texture is silky but with an underlying power and fleshiness. Still, it’s pretty restrained, showing energetic fruit flavours married to puckering acidity and smooth, barely there tannins. There’s some of that good grip to close and a suggestion of crushed granite minerality too. Has lots going on and bounces around the palate with vitality. Good gear; take time with it. 92 points.
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