Carlei Estate Pinot Noir 2002

Variety: Pinot Noir

Vintage: 2002Harvest date: 18t & 19th March, 2002

Vineyard location:  Coldstream, Yarra Valley

Oenological Data:
Harvest Beaumé: 13.7 to 14.0 Total acidity: 7.6 g/l pH: 3.54

Alcohol: 13.5% alc/volProduction: 375 dozen

Winemaker’s Notes:
This vineyard is planted on an easterly aspect in the Coldstream region and yielded around 1.0 tonne/acre off dry grown vines. The fruit was destemmed without crushing and the must was divided into two separate batches. One batch fermented in an open French foudre, the other in an open stainless steel fermenter. Natural ferments reaching 35 °C ensured maximum extraction of flavours and other essential fruit components such as tannins and colour. Maceration extended up to 30 days with hand plunging and pumping over. The wine was aged in 40% new French oak for a period of 18 months, with a further 12 months in bottle prior to release.

Tasting Notes:
Quite complex on the nose with toasty bacon fat combined with lifted sweet ripe wild strawberries and cherries. On the palate it is robust, earthy, meaty and savoury. This is quite a powerful wine with plenty of crisp acid at the finish as well as some firm but fine tannins. It is a wine that will continue to build in structure and flavour whilst simultaneously harmonising. The wine will continue to develop and will take on more earthy complexity as it ages.

Cellaring: 5 years plusPrinter Friendly PDF: Carlei Estate Pinot Noir 2002

Awards and Reviews:

Highly Commended – 2006 Sydney International Wine Competition

Silver Medal Class 25 – 2005 Victorian Wines Show

Silver Medal Class 45 – 2005 Royal Adelaide Wine Show

“At first, this seems like a really big pinot with its varietal characters, cherry fruit, spicy vanillin oak, but then it pulls back to reveal plenty of elegance with silky tannins and a softness on the palate. There’s an alluring tangy cherry note, oak seamlessly integrated adding complexity but not dominance and a savoury edge.”

A2 – Saturday Age, 25th, February, 2005, Jane Faulkner

The overall opinion of this Yarra Valley Pinot from Carlei Estate was that it expressed excellent varietal character. In fact for Stuart, this was his “definition of Pinot”. On the nose it was described as having subtle fruit aromas with some smoked meat characters. Keith felt it had a “complex personality” with a wonderful, plush palate featuring ripe fruit and a velvety texture. Michael thought it was a “very flavoursome wine with loads of mouthfilling berry characters.” It has beautiful tannin integration and balanced acidity.

Australian Wine Selector – Autumn 2006
Tasting panelists mentioned: Stuart Knox, Sommelier; Keith Tulloch, Winemaker and
Wine Show Judge; Michael Hatcher, Winemaker and Wine Show Judge.

“It’s packed with intense, sweet blue berry and cherry fruit which leaps out of the glass, amid a swirl of savoury spice” 91/100

Like it! Tyson Stelzer, 22nd March, 2005

“Complex, savoury, foresty, sappy style; long finish.” 90/100

2006 Australian Wine Companion, James Halliday