Derwent Estate Pinot Noir 2020 (Tasmania)

Grown on a north-facing-bank of the Derwent River, pinot noir from this 28-year-old cool-climate-vineyard is regarded among the most consistent and reliable in Tasmania. Six different clones are all grown on VSP trellising. The soils are permeable loams over limestone, each block with different depths of topsoil.

Picked at flavour ripeness in small parcels, the grapes were in perfect condition on arrival at the winery where 85% of the fruit was gently de-stemmed and 15% as whole bunch. Eventually 20 open fermenters were used. 15% of the must was inoculated with a selected yeast strain, the balance was allowed to ferment naturally. Most batches spent 28 days on skins, all fermenters were hand plunged four times daily. Gently pressed into 100% French oak, 25% new, no sulphur in barrel, malolactic fermentation naturally occurred in spring. A small amount of Sulphur was added prior to bottling, this vintage was filtered.