2019 Hawkshead First Vines Pinot Noir
Regular price $65.00
Unit price per
The 2019 First Vines Pinot Noir is our signature wine. With beautiful, uplifting aromatics and its depth of flavours, it delivers all that the discerning Pinotphile will be looking for – the bright aromatics of crushed red fruits and berries, violet, earthiness and wild dry summer herbs.
When choosing a good single vineyard Pinot Noir it pays to consider the celebrated attributes of the terroir. This sophisticated vintage is a pure expression of Gibbston Valley. The palate detects sweet, vibrant red cherry, subtle spice and elegant floral notes. Soft, ripe acidity and seamless, silky tannins are also hallmarks that make it a perfect NZ Pinot. As an archetypal example of premium Central Otago wine it shines in taste and experience.
Technical Notes
Sub-Region: Gibbston
Colour: Deep ruby hue
Flavour Profile: The aromatics invite an intriguing sensory journey of bright red fruits, violets, sun-warmed wild herbs and earthiness. The mineral-driven palate deliciously accentuates sweet, vibrant red currant, hallmark dried herb with a hint of spice and elegant rose-hip notes. This young wine shows excellent concentration. Refined acidity and ripe, silky tannins lead to a long vibrant yet harmonious finish. This is a premium, lively wine, with finesse, softness and class. It will cellar exceptionally well for 10+ years, although it is immensely beautiful and enjoyable now.
Winemaking Comments: At Hawkshead, we like to think of ‘growing’ our wine rather than just making it. We crop lightly to ensure well-ripened, even fruit; and the 2019 vintage was no exception. Our grapes were selected and hand-harvested on the 30th April at 23.9 Brix. The grapes, 38% whole bunch fermented, spent 26 days on their skins, and were plunged once per day. Pressed and settled for two days before being racked into French oak barrels. The wine went through malolactic fermentation early. It was barrel aged for ten months (50% new) and then coarse filtered for clarification. The wine could show a slight natural deposit.
Wine Analysis: pH 3.62, TA 6.2g/L, Alc 13%, Brix 23.9
Clones: 114 (62%), Abel (25%) and 667 (12.5%)
Bottling Date: 12th February 2020
Wine Maker: Dean Shaw