Charteris
The Winter Vineyard is located on Felton Road, Bannockburn. The vineyard rests on old river terraces beside the Kawarau River with a north-to-northwesterly aspect. Proximity to the river gives the site good air drainage and a degree of natural protection from frost. The climate in the Bannockburn area is unique due to very low total annual rainfall and warm summer temperatures. The winter months are cold and snow is constantly visible on the surrounding peaks. This is one of the few places in New Zealand with a true continental climate.
The backbone of New Zealand’s South Island is the Southern Alps, which are comprised largely of greywacke and schist. It's this base rock that has given rise to the soils of the Winter Vineyard. Alluvial gravels and silt flows form the terraces on which the vineyard lies, providing moderate fertility and moisture-holding capacity. The side faces of the terraces show the soil in full profile and reveal much-prized calcium carbonate layers.
Two ferments from different blocks, the top block handpicked on 8th April 2013 at 23.7 Brix, the bottom block handpicked on 18th April 2013 at 23.9 Brix. Hand plunging was a little bit lighter this vintage, extraction seemed to come more easily. The clonal breakdown is: 43% Dijon 115; 42% Abel; 15% 777. 20% whole bunch inclusion with the balance whole berry. The top block spent 28 days on skins and the bottom block 32 days on skins. 85% of this wine is from the later-picked bottom block. 25% new French oak, the balance one and two years old.
March, 2018
Halliday Magazine
95 points
Hand-picked, 20% whole bunches, 6 days cold soak until wild yeast fermentation initiated, then inoculated with cultured yeast, 10-14 days post-ferment maceration, matured in French barriques (25% new) for 14 months. Red and black cherries; spice and fine-grained, but persistent, tannins give the wine excellent drive and length without compromising its finesse.
October, 2017
The Wine Front
95 points
Charteris’ Winter Vineyard Pinot Noir has had an incredibly consistent run of high quality releases. Here’s another.
Bankable quality. It’s a long, stringy pinot with the flesh to match; always a fantastic combination. Nuts, herbs, forest berries, woodsmoke and a cocoa-like hit. Three years old but lively and fresh; you’d pick it as a much younger wine. There’s a subtle meatiness here too, florals even. I wouldn’t;’t drink this now, I’d cellar it, and I’d expect big things.
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