Yarra Valley Accommodation > New World Organic Biodynamic Pinot Noir
2006 Kiltynane Estate – Pinot NoirSite Elevation is 110m above sea level on the northern Yarra Valley slopes. Slope of 1:10 to the south and west. Soil is ancient silurian weathered grey loam over yellow/orange clay. Rainfall for 2005 season 650mm. Ripening season: Average day temp approx 24 deg. Average night temp. approx 10 deg. Viticulture The 8 year old vines are close planted 1 x 2m. Seven clones are grown. including Dijon, Pommard and Champagne clones. Organic Biodynamic practices are followed to enhance soil life and negate the need for artificial fertilizers. Chemical inputs are avoided totally where possible. Irrigation avoided. Vines are trellised VSP unilaterally to yield 1 to 1.5kg per vine. Canopies are open and disease resistant. Biodiversity is used to control pests, negate the need for fertilizer and avoid the need for nets. Harvest Picked mid February in the cool of the morning. The grapes were picked as each clone and section of the block reached optimum ripeness – often this meant that one to two tonnes would be picked early in the morning and processed before the day warmed up. Picked late February with average baume was 13.2. Winemaking This Pinot Noir was destemmed, keeping 10% whole bunches, then whole berry cool macerated for up to seven days. Wild fermentation then took around five days with gentle hand plunging. Wild secondary fermentation followed and the wine was then pressed into a selection of 50% new and used French oak barriques for maturation. The wine has had no concentration, no tannins or any other enhancers, preferring instead to grow the wine in the vineyard and allow the fruit to express itself – the site, the season and the incredibly low yields – each vine only ripens 8 – 12 bunches of fruit or 700 – 1.5kg. The 2006 vintage reflects the good growing conditions of the season - spring rains and little stress during grape development. Analysis Bottled February 2008. Alc: 13.5. Ph: 3.49, TA 6.7. Tasting Notes Dark berry, soft spice and forest undergrowth. On the palate the Pommard clone debuting to the clonal mix in 2006, adds depth with cola and casserole. 10% whole bunches this vintage were hand picked by a specially trained picker. This is an intense and brooding, complex wine which will benefit from at least another year of cellaring, yet excites the adventurous wine lover at this youthful point of time. Once again, soft acid and fine yet difinitive natural tannins tie the sum of the whole together. Fantastic with duck, game, lamb, char grilled salmon, rare beef. Max Crus - Feb 2008: : Kiltynane Estate Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2006, $45. The words “from sky to earth to vine to bottle” appear somewhat hippyish, but this is fabulous stuff which probably won’t appeal to the purists but stuff them, just means more for us. 9.2/10.
Cellaring Optimum drinking to 2013. |