Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Growing Region: Awatere Valley, New Zealand

Winemaker: Glenn Thomas

TASTING NOTE:
This 2011 is their first release Pinot Noir - as they have waited 8 years for the vines to develop enough vine age to produce the quality of wine that Tupari is known.

The Pinot Noir fruit comes from a block that has clay bound gravels which produces wine with body and colour - ensured with careful shoot and bunch thinning for low yields, using the Pinot Noir clone 777 which is a Dijon clone selected for quality.

For this wine they harvested the fruit at perfect ripeness with just a hint of shrivelling. At the winery Glenn cold soaked the juice for 4 days before ferment to extract primary colour and soft tannins. Fermentation reached 34C in the cap and the wine was plunged 4 to 6 times a day. After fermentation and pressing the wine was placed into French oak (25% new). After bottling the wine was rested for some time before releasing so that it drinks beautifully well once opened.

In the glass you are greeted with a deep, ruby red colour. On the nose this Tupari Pinot Noir has a captivating fragrant style with bright cherries and spiced plum notes. The palate is generous and mouth filling with spice and savoury characters, enveloped in a soft, silky and lingering tannins - giving the wine a pleasing finish. Decant for 30-45 minutes and serve at 15-17C.

CELLARING POTENTIAL:
Drinking perfectly well this coming season; and will age well for another 2-3 years.

SUGGESTED FOOD MATCHES:
Perfect wine match with seared tuna, roast pork, even a wild mushroom risotto, enjoy.

An early drinking Pinot Noir with elegance.