2016 Henty Pinot Noir

The 2016 Henty Pinot Noir is, like its 2012 sibling, from the Rowan’s Lane Vineyard at Warrnambool, planted on black volcanic friable ashy loam over limestone and shells and sand. The vineyard is a mix of two clones, the workhorse MV6 and the slightly earlier ripening 115. 2016 was the earliest vintage we have experienced, and colder areas like this in south-west Victoria fared well. Tiny berries on tiny bunches were fermented as 100% intact whole bunches in 1000lt oak fermenters over 3 weeks with indigenous yeasts and only two pump-overs in that time. the wine was sent to old barriques for 10 months without racking to build texture from lees, then was bottled without fining or filtration. It’s a very complex, herbal and savoury wine, absence of sweetness but lovely silky texture and chalky tannins. I think this will be best in two to three years time, but there is much to enjoy now.

– Vine age: approx 18 years
– 12.0% alc. pH 3.58
– Total Acidity 6g/l
– 170 dozen produced