Methode Traditionnelle

Chardonnay

Sauvignon Blanc

Aromatic

Dessert Wine

Rose

Red Wine
 

Mt Beautiful Cheviot Hills 2009 Pinot Noir

The pioneers from Mt Beautiful saw potential in the picturesque Cheviot Hills, a region between Christchurch and Kaikoura that had not been previously developed as a winegrowing region. They discovered that on their property’s interlaced tablelands, the topsoil was remarkably uniform silt loam Phoebe topsoil, which means that they have very uniform fruit ripening across the vineyard. The vineyard itself has been developed in harmony with the topography, creating a vineyard of contrasts but which is designed to get the best from fruit and location.

Mt Beautiful informs me that 2009 was an excellent vintage in Cheviot Hills. After a very good, even flowering, the weather was fine and warm throughout summer. The vines were shoot thinned to achieve good fruit distribution and an open canopy, while fruit thinning ensured a well balanced concentrated and even crop. The fruit was harvested by hand between March 31st and April 3rd, about two weeks earlier than usual.

The Pinot Noir fruit was destemmed and gravity fed to tank once it arrived at the winery. Blocks were fermented separately which might seem surprising for such a uniform vineyard but the vines are of different clones which bring complexity. The blocks also consist of a mixture of the different clones, so each batch has the complexity that different clones offer.

Ten days of cold soaking was followed by a fast ferment with hand plunging of the cap twice a day to achieve an aromatic wine with good tannin stability. After a week of post-ferment maceration, the grapes were pressed, with free run pressings combined. The wine was then aged for eleven months in French Oak barrels, of which 30% were new.

I found the resulting wine to exhibit wonderful strawberry and lifted floral aromas with underlying earthy notes. I found that the Mt Beautiful Cheviot Hills 2009 Pinot Noir is a nicely balanced wine with flavours of ripe strawberry and blackberry combining with savoury oak and a hint of exotic spice. It is a full bodied wine with good structure and a lingering finish, that I think goes very well with Roast Beef.

This wine is drinking well now but I would expect to develop even further over the next three years with careful cellaring. I would also suggest this is a winery to watch as their vines mature a bit more and they have a few more vintages under their belt. 

Reviewed by Stephen Clark (8/112010)
 

>> Back to Wine Search <<