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Wine Information
The first release Dawson & James Pinot Noir was made from vines planted on the Meadowbank vineyard in 1989, so this wine celebrates the vineyard's 21st!
The grapes were handpicked on 6th April after early season bunch thinning to achieve even ripeness and maturity.
Our picking decision was guided by a desire to attain bunch stalks and seeds that were lignified at a pleasingly low level of sugar ripeness, and grapes with positive flavour accumulation and bright natural acidity. The desire was not to interfere with the natural chemistry of the resultant wine.
Following hand picking, 10% of the whole bunches were retained with the balance lightly crushed into a small open fermenter. Fermentation relied on natural yeasts and was managed with regular hand plunging.
At the completion of primary fermentation the wine was run off, and skins were basket pressed prompting further fermentation from the pressing of whole berries.
The wine was racked into oak barriques from a Burgundian cooperage, 30% new and the balance 1 – 3 year old barrels.
Following a short malolactic fermentation in oak, the wine was racked back into the same barrels for a further 10 months. Blending of the final wine occurred after careful barrel selection.
The finished wine offers appealing delicacy with finely woven fruit and oak, a creamy texture, and the aromas and flavours of wild strawberries.
We believe that we have captured some of the allure of Pinot Noir, but know this is the first step in a never ending quest.
