2023 Stefano Lubiana Estate Pinot Noir

The vineyard is planted at varied elevations and aspects on a mix of diverse terroirs. These soil types range from crumbly red top soil and deep red clay over marl clay with limestone bedrock, grey silty gravel over porous gravelly clay to cracking black clay base over patches of chalky limestone. Our Estate Pinot Noir vines vary in age, majority ranging from 15 years old to 30 years old, with a few barrels from our close-planted block planted in 2019 introduced to our Estate Pinot Noir blend for the first time. The close-planted block is the highest block of our estate vineyard. In the close-planted there are 11,000 vines in the block, a high density planting while faithful to low yields.

Hand picked grapes are processed immediately once picked. The fruit undergoes wild fermentation in open top fermenters with a mixture of whole bunch (40%) and destemmed fruit. After fermentation the ferments are pressed first and then gravity fed to 225L French oak barriques (15% new) in our underground cellar. The wine matures for 12 months in these conditions until it is transferred to tank prior to bottling.

Our 2023 Estate Pinot Noir is ruby red hue. In the glass the wine leaps out with attractive notes of dark cherries, mulberries and blackberries. There is a hint spice and dried rose petals. The palate matches the nose with the additional cranberries and rhubarb. The palate is silky with taut tannins and there is buoyant acid. An aromatic and complex wine which will age extremely well. Cellar for 8+ years. – Monique & Stefano Lubiana