Lethbridge Pinot Noir 2022
$48.99
SPECIAL BUY 6 or more. “Red-fruited and spicy on the palate, gentle tannins and Lethbridge’s trademark bright acidity ..” 93 points, Halliday’s.
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.
The Lethbridge Pinot Noir marries fruit from the home vineyard in the Moorabool Valley and Hat Rock vineyard on the Bellarine Peninsula, midway between Drysdale and Portarlington. Named after a hat-shaped rocky outcrop on the shore of Corio Bay a short distance from the vineyard, Hat Rock vineyard was planted in 1996 and sits on a gently undulating slope that faces north. The soils are volcanic clay/loam over limestone, and the cooling effects of the bayside location moderate temperatures in the warmer months. The Lethbridge home vineyard was planted in 1996 and is the Moorabool Valley’s coolest site. It sits at 270 metres with black clay topsoil on bluestone and honeycomb basalt above limestone bedrock. Though the Lethbridge site is planted to two clones of Pinot Noir (MV6 and Abel), only MV6 is included for the wine, while Hat Rock contributes 114, 115 and a touch more MV6.
The fruit was picked by hand and fermented spontaneously in open-top vessels with a high proportion of whole bunches (approximately 50%). The ferment was handled gently over 20 days, with once-a-day punch-downs evolving to just a wetting of the cap as the days progressed. The wine matured for 11 months in 40% new wood. Expressive and transparent, the 2022 is layered with bright fruits, mineral lines and captivating purity. It strikes a lovely balance between savoury character and engaging fruit presence.
93 points, Philip Rich, The Wine Companion “From four separate vineyards in Geelong that all, interestingly, make single-vineyard wines as well! About 50% whole bunches and 50% new French barriques. Bright crimson. Immediately appealing with its aromas of freshly picked cherries and floral notes. Red-fruited and spicy on the palate, gentle tannins and Lethbridge’s trademark bright acidity make this a wine to enjoy in the short- to medium-term.”
RRP $61 Our Special Price $48.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
Additional information
Producer | Lethbridge Wines |
---|---|
Region or Country | Australia, Geelong |
Variety | Pinot Noir |
Vintage | 2022 |
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