Otway Wines Pinot Noir 2022
$39.50 Inc GST
A 100% single clone Pinot Noir with an interesting back story.
AKA the “Gumboot” clone, or “the Ata Rangi” clone.
This specific clone of pinot noir was propagated from a single cutting taken from the famous (and frightfully expensive) Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in Burgundy and smuggled into New Zealand in the mid-1970’s.
The cutting was allegedly discovered by Malcolm Abel, a NZ customs officer at the time. It was reputedly hidden inside a gumboot of a wine loving rugby player. Coming from a wine making family, Malcolm realised the significance of the cutting, ushering it through quarantine and planting it in his family vineyard. From there it was taken up by Ata Rangi; ultimately producing Pinot Noir that has been described as one of the best examples outside Burgundy. The Abel clone is known for exhibiting more complexity and savoury notes than other pinot noir clones.
This is our first pinot noir hand crafted by Ray Nadeson at Lethbridge wines. To celebrate the change in winemaker, and in wine style, we have re-branded as Otway Wines, which is a name we reserved many years ago to match with our Otway Olives branding for our EVOO. Hope you like the label!
Elegant and complex, this wine reflects the winemaking style of it’s maker – Ray Nadeson of Lethbridge Wines, while still displaying the characteristics of the cool Otways climate, and the Abel clone – reputed to be a classic Dijon clone with its roots (no pun intended) potentially tracing back to Domaine Romanee di Conti, possibly the most famous (and most expensive) domaine in Burgundy.
The grapes were harvested in our compact Deans Marsh vineyard on Easter Saturday 2022. The grapes were delivered to Lethbridge on the same day, and immediately chilled before 50% pressing the next day.
The wine was wild yeast and barrel fermented with 50% whole bunches – initially in new oak but transferred to old oak after a few months to ensure correct weight and balance (right alongside Lethbridge’s own amazing pinot noirs).
As with all of our wine, this 2022 pinot noir has been held back for several years bottle aging before release.
Flavour Profile
Deep crimson in colour with candied Morello Cherry on the nose. A beautiful lifted perfume of dry roses and potpourri.
An elegant silky mouthfeel with deep dark cherry density fruitiness and delicate savoury elements of forest floor and white mushroom. Followed up by a smooth lingering finish.
The grapes are 100% the Abel clone.
Footnote
In 2024 Lethbridge Wines was listed by James Halliday as no. 56 in the TOP 100 Wineries in Australia.