Spinyback Pinot Noir 2020
Black cherry and red berry aromas are followed by succulent red fruit flavours on the palate. The tannins are soft and support the bright fruit, whilst the finish is lifted by a gentle acidity and subtle notes of spices.
The grapes come from the Waimea Estate vineyards, planted on the Waimea Plains. This agricultural paradise sits on the Tasman Bay and benefits from a combination of a cool climate with plenty of hours of sunshine, ensuring that the grapes ripen whilst also maintaining their acidity. The soils are stony with overlying sandy loam, deep river silt and free-draining gravel and clay.
Following harvest, the grapes were fermented in small open-top tanks with regular pumping over. The wine then underwent malolactic fermentation in tank, before being passed to a mixture of tank and French oak barrels for a period of ageing before blending and bottling.
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Alcoholic strength | 13.5% |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Nelson |
| Grapes | Pinot Noir 100% |
| Residual sugar (g/l) | 1 |
| Body | C |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Milk | No |
| Eggs | No |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Screwcap |
Spinyback wines are produced by Waimea Estate, located in Nelson, the neighbouring region to Marlborough. The 140 hectares of vineyards were originally planted in 1993 by the Bolitho family, but the winery is now part of a forward-thinking group of New Zealand wineries, who have invested significantly both in the vineyards and winery. The investment does not stop there, as for each bottle sold a donation is made towards saving the endangered Tuatara or Spinyback - a reptile that traces its lineage back to the time of the dinosaurs.
