2019 Gladstone Vineyard Pinot Noir

Winemaker's Note

100% Pinot Noir. 8000L. 70% contract fruit from Cottier, the remainder is from Dakins and Blairpatrick vineyards. Blocks and parcels fermented separately in 1 and 2 tonne fermenters, pressed to barrel and completed natural malo. Sulphured in Feb 2020, and blended in September. 15% new French oak.

Tasting Note:

Red, purple hue. The nose has fragrant characters of blackberry and dark cherry with floral undertones. Beautifully balanced by savoury oak notes, and sage characters. The palate is refined and tight, with real texture. Fruits form early but the wine is carried by a lovely savoury tone and whole bunch structure and tannins.

Gladstone Vineyard's History

The Wairarapa is home to the first plantings of Pinot Noir in New Zealand, which dates back to the 1880s. Planted by William and Hermance Beetham, an English and French couple, who identified the environmental conditions and landscape as those similar to Burgundy gives good reason for our region to claim status as one of the world’s finest Pinot Noir producing areas.

Gladstone Vineyard, planted in 1986, is located in Gladstone; the central sub-region of the Wairarapa valley. Their vineyards are planted along the river terraces of the Ruamahanga River, which has a unique free-draining soil profile of clay over stony silt loams. The microclimatic conditions of their vineyards are semi-maritime, which experiences very cool springs, extended sunshine hours and high exposure to UV light, which provides ideal conditions for the ripening of their premium wine grapes.

The original owners of Gladstone Vineyard first started the vineyard as a hobby farm with a mere 2.7 hectares of vines planted to Sauvignon Blanc. In 1996, the property was then sold to the Kernohan family who tirelessly spent the next two decades crafting the wines whilst implementing sustainable vineyard practices to ensure premium grapes were yielded off the Home Block. In the early 2000s as the rigorous investment of time and resources started to reap rewards, the Kernohans commenced their expansion plans to satisfy the growing demand for Gladstone Vineyard wines by increasing the vineyard holdings of Pinot Noir and building a new winery.