In the vineyard
2009/10 was an an excellent growing season at Folding Hill. Flowering in mid December took place in warm settled weather and subsequent fruit set was good. As is our usual practice we thinned the crop to 1 bunch per shoot and removed all shoulder bunches resulting in a very low crop of between 3 and 4 tonnes / hectare. The weather through the start of 2010 was good and a beautiful, dry late summer and autumn provided ideal ripening conditions. Berries and bunches were of an ideal size, disease pressure was very low and the fruit was in outstanding condition when hand harvested on April 12th 2010.
Winemaking
Juice analysis - pH 3.3 TA 8.8 Brix 24.2 ABV 14%
Approximately 1 tonne fruit from the 'Orchard Block' Bunches fully destemmed but not crushed. 10 day cold soak then fermented with wild yeasts. Hand plunged 3 times per day and fermented to dryness over 6 days. Post ferment maceration until wine in balance then run into French oak barriques (Francois Frere medium toast), Barrel matured for 20 months and then bottled unfiltered and unfined. 75 cases made
Reviews
Raymond Chan "Clone 5 fruit from the ’Orchard Block’, fully destemmed but
not crushed, given a cold soak and indigenous yeast fermented to 14.0% alc.,
the wine aged 18 months in 33% new French oak barriques. Full, dark, deep ruby-red colour, lighter on
edge. This has a very full and firmly
packed bouquet showing savoury dark berry and cherry fruit aromas with earth,
dark herbs, liquorice and spicy oak lift.
Full-bodied, the fruit flavours of dark berry fruit and earthy plums are
somewhat restrained and ethereal in expression.
The fruit grows in richness and succulence, unveiling spicy plums,
earth, sweet herbs and oak interest. The
palate is supported by very fine, ripe tannins, the extraction building and
driving the palate line, with soft, discreet acidity providing good energy. As the wine flows, layers of sweet fruit and
complex, spicy, earthy nuances unfold and lead to a long, sustained
finish. This is a complex, layered,
savoury Pinot Noir with ethereal fruit expression and very fine textures. Serve with wild duck, pork and hare dishes
over the next 6-8+ years. 75 cases made. 18.5-/20 5 stars
Sam Kim "This is a brilliant expression of Bendigo - rich and sumptuous with superb structure. The perfumed bouquet shows dark cherry, plum, game, truffle and elegantly infused cedary oak characters. It's concentrated and velvety on the palate with lovely roundness, leading to a gloriously long, supple finish. At its best: now to 2022" 94/100
Jamie Goode "Lovely aromatics, with vivid black cherry, plum and spice notes. Concentrated, quite structured and delicious with lovely finesse to the black cherry fruit, underlain by a distinctly spicy structure." 94/100
Neil Hodgson Nelson Mail "With flavours that are rich in dark cherry, spicy plums and toasty oak characters with firm but fine tannins and fresh acidity, this is a wine that has complexity by the bucketload and expresses the delights of the Bendigo sub-region."
Charmian Smith Otago Daily Times "A stylish wine with suggestions of mineral and red fruits,
underlying spiciness, an impression of lightness and charm
but also restrained power that give it harmony and balance.
At three years old this is a beauty but will continue to
develop for several more years." 4 1/2 stars
Michael Cooper "Drinking well now the 2010 vintage was hand picked, fermented with indigenous yeasts barrel aged for 18 months and bottled unfiltered and unfined. Deep and fairly youthful in colour, it is powerful, full bodied and complex, with dense plum, spice herb and nut flavours, firm tannins and obvious cellaring potential. Best drinking 2015+" 4 1/2 stars