Tamar Ridge Pinot Noir 2016

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Tamar Ridge Pinot Noir 2016 is deep purple with hints of crimson. A rich and complex nose showing generous aromas of ripe dark cherry and red berry fruits dominating against a background layer of spice and savoury complexity. It has mouth-filling flavours of ripe raspberry and strawberry. The fruit flavours are balanced by a good concentration of fine, soft, silky tannins and enough acidity to give definition to the finish which is long and persistent with lingering ripe fruit. The wine is drinking well now and will develop more complex and savoury characters with some more time in the bottle. It could be cellared for another four to eight years.

Pinot Noir has its origins in the rolling chalky hills of eastern France where it is responsible for the region’s famed red wines. It can be a temperamental and frustrating variety, even in hometown. Ripening early and low yielding, it is susceptible to excessive heat and cold and prone to large clonal variations. Pinot Noir is very sensitive to overcropping and vines with excessive bunch numbers struggle to ripen their grapes. After crushing the must was pumped into open stainless steel fermenters with some batches allowed to undergo pre-ferment maceration and soak on skins for up to 5 days. Fermentation on skins for approximately 10 days with ferment temperatures allowed to run at temperatures of up to 30°C. During this time the cap was plunged twice daily. All batches were pressed using a hydraulic basket press and then pumped into French oak barriques. Approximately 20% of the wine was matured in new oak with the balance aged in a mixture of two to three-year-old barrels.

Tamar Ridge Pinot Noir is typically aged for 10-12 months prior to bottling. This full and flavoursome pinot noir from Tamar ridge makes a versatile accompaniment to a great variety of foods. It would be delightful with an olive crusted lamb cutlet served on a tomato and chickpea salad. Or for something different try the Tamar Ridge Pinot Noir with a roasted squab that has a preserved lemon and thyme stuffing.

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