20% of the fruit was retained as whole clusters with the remainder carefully de-stemmed directly to the fermenters by gravity without harsh pumping. Long pre-fermentation soaks of 8-10 days prior to fermentation with indigenous yeasts and punched down by hand up to two times per day with a total time on skins of 24 days. Pressed off and barrels filled immediately by gravity to the underground barrel cellars. The wine spent 16 months in barrel (29% new French) with two rackings and no fining or filtration, before bottling in early-September 2023

Tasting Note: The vivacious character of the 2022 vintage leads the intense nose of dark florals, black cherry and an array of classic Central Otago spice and dried herbs. The flavours are again classic with plentiful diversity and complexity. It’s incredibly seamless and finely poised already, but the tannins are there, svelte and integrated, waiting patiently in the background for the long haul. A chic and sophisticated Block 5.

Origin: Central Otago, New Zealand

Blend: Pinot Noir