2014 Urlar Select Parcels Pinot Noir, Gladstone
Intriguing aromas of bright red fruits, plumstone, dried herbs and iodine. The palate is soft on entry and builds through the mid palate with savoury notes intermingled with dark fruits and spice. The texture is impressive with mouth coating tannins coming from the whole cluster inclusion. An elegant style of pinot noir with great power and complexity that will reward cellaring.
The select parcels from the vineyard are hand harvested and then hand sorted. The majority of the fruit is destemmed into open top French oak cuvees and stainless fermenters with 30% whole cluster inclusion. Traditional fermentation with indigenous yeast after a period of cold soak on skins. Hand plunged daily and then pressed and racked to French oak barriques (20% new).
A blind tasting barrel-by-barrel early in the New Year decides the select parcel cut and these wines are left in barrel for an extended period to enhance harmony.
Varieties: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2014
Country: New Zealand
Region: Gladstone, Wairarapa
Alcohol: 14.5%
URLAR [pron. er-lar], The Earth in Gaelic. Our 31-hectare single vineyard located on ancient free-draining soils has appx 100,000 vines which when in full production will produce over 15,000 cases per year.
The inter-row crop rotation maintains healthy soils full of life and biodiversity. Every year, one row in seven will be sowed in a variety of plants and beneficial flowers. These flowers, such as buckwheat, lupins and phacelia provide crucial protection to the vineyard attracting beneficial insects that will kill off unwanted pests that can destroy the fruit and vines. A good example of this is the Tasmanica Wasp which preys on the Leaf roller Caterpillar – a pest that causes harmful botrytis, a type of rot in the grape bunches.