Wild Earth Reserve 'Earth and Sky' Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021

Wild Earth Reserve 'Earth and Sky' Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021French oak Dark berry Toasted spice Fine tannins "This youthful, finely crafted red was grown at two Bannockburn sites and matured for a year in French oak barriques (24% new). Deep, bright ruby, it is deliciously mouthfilling and sweet fruited, with rich, ripe cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours, complex, vigorous, savoury and lingering" Michael Cooper, Winestate Magazine, Jul 2022 "This is immensely complex and magnificently expressed, showing dark

• French oak
• Dark berry
• Toasted spice
• Fine tannins

"This youthful, finely crafted red was grown at two Bannockburn sites and matured for a year in French oak barriques (24% new).  Deep, bright ruby, it is deliciously mouthfilling and sweet-fruited, with rich, ripe cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours, complex, vigorous, savoury and lingering" Michael Cooper, Winestate Magazine, Jul 2022

"This is immensely complex and magnificently expressed, showing dark berry, earthy mushroom, cedar and toasted spice aromas on the nose, leading to a gracefully rich palate that’s impressively concentrated and mouthfilling. Seductively plush with a superbly long silky finish. At its best: 2023 to 2034" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, May 2022

"A very enticing, fresh and vibrant bouquet witha core varietal intensity of raspberry and dark cherry, earthy with stony chalk qualities and a pure fine savoury thyme quality. Complex and seductive. Equally enticing on the palate with core fruit and spice flavours that mirror the bouquet, contrasting acid line and firm youthful texture. Firm tannins are a mix of oak and fruit with a polish enhancing the overall youthful texture and mouthfeel. Salivating, complex and delicious. Best drinking from 2024 through 2032+" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Jun 2022

"Deep ruby with a purple core, lighter on the rim. This has a savoury, gentle entry, aromas of brown mushroom interweave floral, thyme and a black fruit core. It has an enticing synergy between the savoury nuance, floral and herb. Medium-bodied, ripe cherries and blackberries melded with an amalgam of spice, unveiling thyme, purple flower and brown mushroom. Silky tannins flow smoothly with lacy acidity, showing strength, finesse and vitality. The flavours melded harmonious, youthful in appearance, and will benefit from short-term ageing. This fragranced Pinot Noir possesses savoury black fruit, thyme and floral on a supple, refined palate. Match with smoked duck and pork over the next 8+ years. Selected parcels from Bannockburn sub-region, fermented with 0-25% whole bunches, averaged 18%, on skins maceration 21-28 days, aged for 12 months approx in French oak barriques" Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Reviews, Jun 2022

"From grapes grown in the Bannockburn sub-region. Attractively aromatic wine with floral violet, red rose, cassis, blackberry, and spicy anise and thyme flavours. Elegant wine that is accessible now but should age well" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review

A lifted and savoury nose with cherry, blackberry, lilac, sandalwood, wild thyme and a hint of mushroom. This is an intensely concentrated expression of the Bannockburn sub-region with lovely bramble fruit, florals and a hint of leather supported by fine tannins that are intricately woven around the fresh acidity. This Pinot Noir is both sophisticated and “classic”, expressing intensity and poise from great sites in stellar sub-region. At release this wine benefits from some oxygen and it will certainly reward those who choose to cellar it with a wonderful journey of development for at least 10+years.

Following a mild winter with normal rainfall, the 2020-2021 growing season had a few frost/weather events around bud burst that were successfully navigated. January was wet and windy, keeping Vineyard Managers on edge. The weather stabilised in February andremained relatively warm and dry all the way through harvest in April, leading to idyllic conditions. The combination of challenging and favourable periods resulted in a Pinot Noir with intense colour and a highly concentrated core.

Only the very best grapes from vineyards in the well renowned Bannockburn area are selected to produce this ‘Earth and Sky’ Pinot Noir 2021. This wine is a blend of two Bannockburn vineyards ranging from 12 to 21 years old. Both sites border the Bannockburn Sluicings, a distinctive geographic landmark that is steeped in mining history. The grapes from these vineyards were fermented separately with a range of 0-25% whole clusters with the resulting blend having around 18% whole clusters which aids the tannin structure and aromatics of the wine. The total time on skins ranges from 21-28 days. The wine was aged for approximately 12 months in fine grain French oak barriques with 24% new and the rest ranging from 2-5 years old. This wine is vegan.