Fancrest Estate Di's Pinot Noir 2009
We grew this wine in conversion to organics (BioGro #5124) on our Estate in Waipara. Our 6 year old vines are still considered young, but already you can taste the terroir.
2009 was a dream season... a one in thirty year vintage according to some. A wet winter was followed by a glorious spring that was punctuated by a couple of frosts that left us untouched. Summer started hot, resulting in near perfect flowering. A violent hailstorm on 4 January clipped the vineyard, damaging some exposed hard green berries and shredding leaves. These berries dried up and fell, removing pressure from within already crowded bunches setting us up for a perfect harvest. Conditions cooled towards the end of summer slowing ripening and allowing us to harvest beautifully ripe fruit at reasonable sugar levels.
Our largest crop to date, we harvested 6 tonnes. Once again, on the hard thin limestone soils we took only a minuscule crop. Hand harvesting began on 6 April, and ended on 11 April, unusually compact time-wise, and a reflection of the evenness of the season. 100% destemmed without crushing into open top fermenters.
Natural fermentation was helped along only by gentle hand plunging. We basket pressed after about 34 days on the skins. Maturation took place in a selection of quality tight grained French oak barriques (mainly Allier and Tronçaise), about 60% new, for 6 months.
A fire at the winery in which the barrels were stored, destroyed the winery and much of the wine stored there. 2000L of our own wine survived, untainted by smoke... later confirmed by laboratory testing. Maturation continued in small CP (Controlled Permeability) tanks. This is a powerful wine with an amazing but true story of survival!
Fined with organic egg whites and organic milk. Light filtration. Contains sulphites. Bottled under screw-cap in light weight glass.
Di's Notes:
This is a wine that's going to need time to reveal its full potential. Vibrant juicy red and black fruit, with finely balanced acidity and subtle oak. Mineral. Silky but powerful tannins. Bright acidity suggests this wine will accompany fatty tuna, turkey and pork dishes exceptionlly well. We expected it to take on a complex savoury character in the next couple of years with floral high tones. We do not stabilise tartrates so a heavy tannin-tartrate crystal sediment will develop in the bottle allowing the wine to soften naturally.
Reviews:
Fancrest Estate Di's Waiprara Pinot Noir 2009
Pinot Noir from New Zealand Canterbury & Waipara
by Raymond Chan
18+/20 The third crop from 6 y.o. vines from the R16;Fancrest' site, 100% destemmed and wild yeast fermented to 13.0% alc., then aged 6 months in 60% new French oak barriques. Following a fire at the winery where the barrels were stored, 2000 L of the wine was retrieved unaffected and given further maturation in small CP tanks. Moderately deep ruby-red colour with light purple hues on the edge, the aromatics of ripe dark berries and cherries are a little shy. Subtle Asian spice notes with oak and a fresh lift mark the nose, which is tightly bound, but promises to unfold. Medium-bodied, the black fruit flavours are tight, concentrated and show depth and intensity. Cherries, berries spices and dark red florals show, and fine-grained tannins provide support and palate structure. The wine is poised with focus and tension and a long, sustained finish of spices and ripe fruits. This elegant and vibrantly fruited wine shows the potential to unfold over the next 5-7+ years, when it will no doubt merit an even higher rating. Serve with poultry and pork. 18.0+/20 Oct 2011 RRP $39.00
NATURAL BEAUTY
Fancrest Estate Di's Waipara Pinot Noir 2009 $32
by Jo Burzynska in NZ Herald
Biodynamic from its inception and pinot noir-focused, Fancrest is a new Waipara Estate that's one to watch. Its latest release has a gossamer-like texture and unfurls to display layers of pretty cherry plum fruit, florals, savoury spice and hints of smoke and game.