Lake Chalice Pinot Noir The Raptor
REGION: Marlborough, New Zealand
VARIETIES: Pinot Noir
VITICULTURE: Conventional
YEAR: 2020
ALCOHOL: 13%
INFO: The fruit for this wine comes exclusively from Lake Chalice’s 11 hectare Eyrie Vineyard, which is located in the lower Waihopai Valley. The fruit is a hand-picked selection of clone 115 Pinot Noir. The 15 year old vines are pruned to two canes and the yields are carefully monitored, resulting in an intense fruit expression in the grapes. The high clay content in the soil profile is well suited to bringing out the best in the Pinot Noir variety.
The grapes were fermented in small open top vats, enabling maximum hand plunging. The wine was pressed and racked into barrels where it underwent full malolactic conversion. The wine was then matured for 11 months aging in 11 selected Tonnellerie Mercurey and François Frères French oak barriques, of which over one third were new. The final blending was carefully selected from the barrels delivering the greatest expression.
An elegant and aromatic Pinot Noir, delivering intense notes of blackberry, plum and cherry fruit with delicate and lifted floral aromas. Beautifully structured, with fine grained tannins, the flavours are echoed on the smooth, supple palate, flowing through to hints of coffee on the lingering finish.