Great Southern, Western Australia. Mount Barker and Porongurup.
Pinot Noir is dead sexy. Enigmatic, because it requires the right vineyard sites in cooler regions and is unforgiving of sloppy viticulture. Inspiring, because it does not conform to formulaic winemaking but requires imagination as much as experience. Frustrating, as the slightest mistake can have disastrous consequences. When everything comes together the resultant wines are seductive, addictive and memorable.
The Great Southern has some fantastic sites for Pinot Noir. We have chosen 2 sites for the Wide Open Road. The Mount Barker site is the younger and is planted to the 115 clone of Burgundian heritage and highly regarded. The older site is in the Porongurups and was planted in 1994. Yields in 2013 averaged 2.5T/ha.
All the fruit was handpicked and chilled before crushing. We used up to 20% whole bunches in various small fermenters, some wild ferments and plunging 3/day during the first part of fermentation. When nearly dry, a selection of German, French and Belgian backpackers used their feet to crush the whole bunches and extend the ferment. Aging in 500L puncheon for 6 months has added complexity and length.
The 2017 Wide Open Road Pinot Noir is an early release style of Pinot Noir owing as much to Cru Beaujolais as to Mercurey. Lifted cherry, raspberry and floral fruit has bonbon lift a cherry stone mouthfeel. The fresh fruit driven palate has bright raspberry, stalky rhubarb and fruit pip chewiness. The oak is subtle and the tannins are grippy in the way a 5yo holds its favourite toy. Fun summer drinking with heart and soul. It must be Great Southern.
No recommended products at the moment.
