December 2022 Releases: Pimpernel Vineyards Pinot Noir One 2018 $55 & Pimpernel Vineyards Pinot Noir Two 2018 $55

Pimpernel Vineyards Pinot Noir One 2018

Pinot Noir One pursues an elegant style. Minimal intervention winemaking produces a wine of poise and finesse; the purest representation of Pimpernel terroir. Technical Note Fruit for Pinot Noir One comes from our main north facing slope. 114, 115 and 777 clones predominate the blend for fruit forwardness. The bunches were handpicked at optimal ripeness and cropped at 2.5 tonnes per acre. Everything was destemmed prior to fermentation in small open topped vats. The vast majority of ferments were whole-berry, allowing carbonic maceration to highlight bright fruit expression whilst imbuing rich, rounded textural feel. After fermentation the wine was transferred to barrel without extended skin soaking. Very tight grained French barriques were carefully selected for refined char and elegance (30% new). After 15 months in the cellar, the wine was bottled without fining or filtration. Tasting Note Colour: Ruby Aroma: A classic One nose, fruit expressive from the first pour. The immediate notes are of cherry flesh, cranberries and violets, contrasted by a touch of lees funk. With an hour of breathing, the nose evolves to show chamomile, nutmeg, sandalwood and milk chocolate with the oak coming through as freshly split redwood. Palate: The palate is pure and juicy with raspberries and cherries. Primary fruit characters are juxtaposed by rye bread and soft char. The acidity is bright with great line, leading to a long well defined finish. Closure: Diam

Pimpernel Vineyards Pnot Noir Two 2018

Pinot Noir Two is the antithesis of Pinot Noir One, with emphasis on secondary character expression. Ripe stalks, post fermentation maceration up to 16 days, and carefully chosen charry French barriques, create a wine of structure, power and savoury intensity. Technical Note Pinot Noir Two is made with fruit sourced from our main north facing block, with 114, 115 and Mv6 clones predominating for power and structure. The fruit was fully ripe with small tight bunches and cropped at around 2.5 tonnes to the acre. Fermentation was in small open top stainless steel fermenters with the reintroduction of hand selected stalks to roughly 40% of vats. Non-stalk vats underwent extended maceration for structure and palate weight. The wine was matured in a careful selection of medium and medium+ charred French oak barriques (30%+ new) prior to bottling at 15 months without fining or filtration. Tasting Note Colour: Ruby Aroma: The nose of P2 immediately emphasises secondary characters; peanut brittle, toasted almonds, freshly ground coffee and caraway seeds come to the fore. With time the fruit and stalk start to come through as blueberries, blackberries, and Indian spices with charry oak adding a touch of graphite. Palate: The palate is structured, extremely long and constantly evolving – but always dark. Plush dark berries give tremendous volume to the wine, contrasted by savoury cocoa and umami notes; forest undergrowth and mushrooms. Closure: Diam