Fancrest Estate Pinot Noir

Overall, 2007 delivered a small but very good vintage with great colour. Patience (and decanting) will reward with the slow unfolding of layers of graphite, earth, incense, and spice over dark berry (cherry and plum) fruits. Floral notes are beginning to evolve. Has very good concentration for the product of young vines, a moderately long finish, and alcohol and oak are in balance. A fine-grained tannin structure and good acidity ensure it will age gracefully for another 5-8 years.

Overall, 2008 delivered a very small vintage but a particularly fine example from what could be considered a “cool” year in Waipara. The vineyard has expressed the prevailing conditions by producing a lighter, more elegant style than in 2007. Consumers of great Pinot Noirs from Burgundy will tell you that colour hue and density is not a reliable indicator of Pinot Noir quality. This is a wine that is more “up front", with enticing aromas of red berries, dark cherries, over subtle layers of earth and spice making for a delightfully complex wine, that opens up in the glass to reveal gorgeous floral notes (rose petal and violets), that are quite typical of our Estate's wines. Despite its apparent lightness, the 2008 has lovely concentration. A moderately long finish, and moderate alcohol and integrated oak are in perfect balance. Fine-grained silky tannins and good acidity ensure it will age gracefully for another 5-6 years.

This is a wine that's going to need time to reveal its full potential. Vibrant juicy red fruit (redcurrant and cherry), with finely balanced acidity and subtle oak. Mineral. Silky but powerful tannins. This wine is expected 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 soon develop in the bottle allowing the wine to soften naturally.

This once again is a wine that's going to need time to reveal its full potential. Vibrant juicy red fruit (redcurrant and cherry), with finely balanced acidity and subtle oak. Mineral. Silky but powerful tannins. This wine is expected to take on a complex savoury character in the next couple of years with floral high tones as is typical for the estate's wines. We do not stabilise tartrates so a heavy tannin-tartrate crystal sediment may soon develop in the bottle allowing the wine to soften naturally.