Variety:

Montepulciano

Region

Onetangi Valley, Obsidian Vineyard, Waiheke Island, Auckland, NZ

Season:

Growing conditions: A settled and early summer resulted in an exceptional fruit set and clean growing conditions throughout the vineyard.  This was followed with a persistent period of near drought conditions from mid-summer to autumn.  Temperatures were in the normal range, but rainfall was extremely low with the island experiencing only about a third of the year previous.  These conditions allowed fruit to reach optimal ripeness.  As a result, 2019 will be fondly remembered as a vintage that produced an abundance of high-quality wines.

Harvest:

Hand picked between 8th - 18th April 2019.

Vinification:

Fermentation took place in open top fermenters, with twice daily plunging.  After a period of post fermentation maceration, the wine was pressed and transferred to oak for malolactic fermentation.  The wine was racked twice for clarification prior to a light egg white fining before bottling.

Analysis:

Alcohol: 13.60%
TA: 6.37 g/l
pH: 3.52
Winemaker: Michael Wood

Bottle February 2020, 547 dozen produced