2009 Escarpment Pinot Noir

Larry McKenna has been at the forefront of the Kiwi Pinot Noir explosion for some time, acting as consultant, adviser and wine maker to many projects including Martinborough Vineyards and Yabby Lake back here in Australia. He's been known to be experimental, but with the 2009 Escarpment Pinot Noir things go back to basics with stunning results. Hand harvests, pump free handling up to the press, precise extract through hand plunging every 8 hours, 18 days on skins and 11 months aging in French oak barriques (30% new). The result is something very Burgundian yet still brashly Kiwi.
Deep dark crimson red colour with dark red mauve hue. The nose is very perfumed displaying excellent intensity with aromas of violets, dark cherries and dark plum followed by some gamey meat like characters and spicy cedar. The palate boasts superb concentration, richness and power with fleshy mouthfilling flavours of dark cherries and dark plum followed by some spicy cedar and a touch of dried meat on the finish. Super fine grained almost velvet like tannins. Magnificent power wave with very long aftertaste of dark cherry, dark plum, dried meat, cedar and spice.
Cellar 4-5 years (2015-2016).
Alc 14.5%