Description
Maree Collis and Ray Nadeson are not your average winemaker/owners of a boutique winery. Both were initially trained as research scientists and hold PhD degrees in chemistry and medicine, respectively. Mid career they made the decision to pursue their alternate passion and together with friend Adrian Thomas established Lethbridge Wines in 1996. Both Maree and Ray completed their winemaking degree at Charles Sturt University after which Ray concluded “winemaking is not really that different to science, both are creative and both involve 99% perspiration, 1% inspiration”.
Not surprisingly, the site at Lethbridge was selected based on scientific principles such as soil type, degree days and other climatic indicators, yet after purchasing the property in Lethbridge they discovered an ancient old wooden fermentation vat in one of the old sheds. Further investigation revealed that site had originally been planted by Swiss vignerons in the 1870’s before the scourge of phylloxera decimated the Geelong wine region. This story is compelling in the connection between traditional wisdom and modern science.
The focus of Lethbridge Wines is to produce wines that are textural, savoury and reveal characters true to variety and terroir. The wines of Lethbridge are generally single varietal wines or mirror a traditional European blend. The winemaking team, led by Ray Nadeson, are committed to excellence. The fruit, if not estate grown, is from selected special sites tended by passionate people. The barrels are directly imported, with Ray even visiting the forests with the Coopers to select the trees to be felled and the wines are benchmarked with the best in the world. Each vintage something new is learned.
While best known for the varieties of the Geelong region, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Shiraz, Lethbridge also produce a wide range which includes Riesling, Pinot Gris, Viognier, Merlot, Sangiovese and more, with the most recent exciting addition to the vineyard and cellar being Gamay.
About this wine: The Lethbridge Block 4 Pinot Noir is grown on a patch of vines on the black clay, basalt and limestone soils in the northwest corner of the lofty, cool Lethbridge vineyard in the Moorabool Valley. The block was planted in 1998 predominantly to MV6, with a smattering of 115 in the mix. Though the cool, wet start to the 2018 season gave rise to some concern early on, come November, things had dried out and warmed up, with the rest of the season playing out as “one of the most pleasurable” Ray has witnessed in decades. “The vines were perfectly set up to produce great fruit.”
Perfectly ripe fruit was picked by hand, fermented spontaneously in open-top vessels with 50% whole bunches, and matured in barrels (50% of which were new). Perhaps due to his scientific background, Nadeson, whose wines never taste oaky, is a specialist when it comes to oak use. He works closely with a single French cooper, and all Lethbridge barrels are custom-built to his specifications: light toast and a tight grain to facilitate micro-oxygenation and help polymerise the tannins. This is super classy, bottle-aged Pinot: bold and richly textured, laden with deep red fruits, exotic spice and well-integrated savoury notes from the oak.
“Our home block provides huge intensity and structure, although very low yielding it has a finesse while retaining an ability to age … this wine is richly textured, heady with powerful red berry and maraschino cherry fruit, and licorice with sweet spices over vanilla and smoke.” Ray
96 points, Philip Rich, The Wine Companion “All MV6 estate planted in 1996 with 50% whole bunches and 50% new French barriques. Nuanced with less primary and more secondary aromas including dark rose petal, wild strawberries, light clove scents and just a little sous bois. Lovely palate with superb fine, silky tannins giving this both texture and structure. Seductive now and over the next decade or so.”
RRP $83 Our Special Price $67.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine
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