Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Pinot Noir 2019

Aroma: Aromatic floral and savoury notes combined with ripe dark berry aromas.

Palate: A rich and complex palate showing dried fruit characters of orange zest and currants combined with fresh dark berries and a delicate tannin structure. The finish is long and lingering incorporating characters of black olives, choc

The fruit was harvested when it had reached full physiological ripeness and maximum flavour maturity. At the winery the fruit was held cold for five days prior to fermentation to help extract maximum flavour and to enhance colour stability. 8 per cent whole cluster bunches were added to the fermentation to add a stems component and another layer of complexity. Specially selected cultured yeast were used to carry out the primary alcoholic fermentation, during which the fermenting must was hand plunged up to six times daily at the peak of fermentation. At dryness the wine was pressed, then racked off gross lees to a mixture of 25 per cent new French oak and older seasoned 225 litre oak barriques. During maturation the barrels were regularly tasted until the right balance was achieved (eleven months). During this time in oak, the young wine completed malolactic fermentation. The wine was then carefully extracted from oak, blended and prepared for bottling.