Ballewindi Pinot Noir 2011
Tasting Notes

Vineyard

Ballewindi is located on the Mornington Peninsula at Balnarring and focuses on producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which are both suited to the Peninsula’s cool maritime climate.

Vintage

Much has been said about the 2010 – 2011 growing season. When the Eastern states of Australia’s decade-long drought broke in September of 2010, the rains were met with great relief. The cooler conditions delayed vine development and gave expected harvest timeframes more akin to historical averages. However the growing season weather patterns came to be shaped by a strong La Niña, which meant Spring and Summer rains were frequent and significant, increasing the time demands on our viticulture team. This season we employed a number of techniques in the vineyard not used for a number of years, including leaf plucking to improve ventilation and sunlight interception in the fruit zone. Surprisingly, fruit set was good and cropping levels quite moderate despite the lack of heat and high humidity during flowering. The ripening period was cool and extended and has produced fragrant and delicate white wines, and Pinot Noirs with attractively ripe tannins, balanced natural acidity and elegant, savoury fruit.

Viticulture

The Ballewindi property was acquired in 2007. Vines are all cane pruned and vertically shoot positioned. Pinot Noir yields express themselves naturally at about 2.5 tonnes per acre. The 2011 Ballewindi Pinot Noir represents 2.4Ha of vineyard.

Winemaking

100% destemmed and fermented in open vats without innoculation. Matured for 10 months in French oak (12% new).

Alcohol

13.0% alcohol

Tasting note - February 2012

Bright, dark ruby colour. The nose is a bright and aromatic mix of blueberry, raspberry and rhubarb with some cool floral and leafy notes. A fresh, medium bodied and youthful palate, again with bright red fruits, violetty florals and a sapid edge of crushed meadow herbs. Not a big and fruity Pinot but pure, pretty and lifted.

Cellaring

With careful cellaring, this wine has good potential for ageing.

Tatsing Notes

2011 (PDF)