Hans Family Estate - Pinot Noir 2016

Juicy red-cherries and raspberries for a gorgeous sweet palate entry. Vibrant savoury notes of dried herbs, earthiness and a hint of chocolate. Show-stopping in its effortless intensity and infinite purity. This wine is persistent and balanced, keeping the tannin and acidity interlinked right the way through to the last sip with an excellent freshness. A powerful and rich portrayal of Burgundy’s greatest varietal with Hans’ signature silky texture. A complex, masculine style of Pinot Noir which makes this a very special wine and one to keep for the ages. Tasted Sept 2020.

Vineyard: Wairau Valley - Rapaura Prime location. One of the warmest sites in the Wairau valley, special micro-climate from adjoining Wairau river. Naturally frost protected.

Soil Type: Shallow (<45 cm) well drained soils. Some rows on sand/gravel. Some rows on sandy/clay soils. All derived from stony alluvium.

Hand-picking only perfectly healthy grapes allowed a prolonged cold soak for a slow, soft extraction of colour and flavours from the grape skins. The must then went naturally through a wild fermentation for a true expression of the grape variety and its terroir, as it is not influenced by added yeast. In total, the must was left 24 days on the skins before being pressed and transferred into French Allier barriques (40% new) for the natural malolactic fermentation.

The young wine was matured for a long 20 months in the same barrels making it a contender for a long life. Unfined & unfiltered to retain the great flavours. Vegan. Natural sediments may show.