For this wine, we travel to New Zealand. This relatively young wine country has grown into a world-class producer. Various wines are now produced here, the most well-known being Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. The Stoneburn vineyard was established in 1989 in the heart of the Wairau Valley in Marlborough. The vineyard has continued to develop, resulting in consistently higher quality. The soil consists of rocky loam, which gives the grapes a rich flavor. The wines are fresh, lively, and beautifully balanced.
When the Pinot Noir grapes are fully ripe, they are harvested partly by hand and partly by machine. The hand-picked grapes are then steeped in small vats until the fermentation process is complete. The remaining fruit is fermented in stainless steel tanks. To extract the color and tannins, the fermentation is pumped over twice a day at temperatures up to 32 degrees Celsius. Some of the fermented juice is transferred to barrels to complete the fermentation process in new oak. The remaining portion is aged for ten months in French oak barriques. The wine is then blended and bottled.
This delicious red wine has rich and complex aromas. We detect red plums, strawberries, and red berries. On the palate, it has a silky, balanced flavor. Fine, spicy tannins linger prominently. This juicy, full-flavored Pinot Noir is perfect for any occasion.
