BABICH WINEMAKERS' RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2006
Overview:
The warm days and cool nights that Marlborough is well known for are ideal for the Pinot Noir grape. An early ripening variety, it benefits from the warm days, high sunshine hours and cool nights that develop intense flavour while maintaining balanced acidity in the fruit.
Grapes:
100% Pinot Noir
Region:
Marlborough
Winemaker:
Adam Hazeldine
Recommended Food:
A good partner for a char-grilled Scotch fillet steak topped with grilled flat mushrooms.
Recommended Cellaring:
1-5 years
Production Notes:
The various parcels of fruit were harvested at optimum ripeness and fermented in open vats, 10% whole cluster. After an extended period of maceration the various batches were drained off skins and put into new and old French oak barriques. After 11 months the wines were assessed and blended then returned to oak for a further two months. This wine is a blend of five clones predominately 667 and 777.
Tasting Notes:
The bouquet is cherry and plum with spice and touch of cedar. In the mouth the wine explodes with sweet up front fruit that continues through the palate and lingers well into the finish. Some quite spicy notes join with the ripe generous fruit and we finish up with a hint of liquorish and complex earthy notes. The tannins are fine, even and coating.
Awards:
SILVER
- Wine Styles Asia Awards, 2007
Reviews:
"Grapes are sourced from various vineyards in Marlborough with Dijon clones , 667 and 777 predominating. 10% whole bunch in the ferment with the finished wine matured in seasoned and new french oak barriques for 11 months. The wine shows a medium red/purple colour and a fabulous bouquet revealing glorious, ripe cherries with floral notes and gentle oak complexity. The palate is focused with excellent concentration, supreme balance and a wonderful structure from ripe, firm tannins at the end. A young wine that's already beautifully complex and harmonious with precise Pinot flavours. At it's best: now to 2010."
4.5 STARS
-Wine Orbit Magazine Dec 2007
"Grown in the Wairau Valley and matured in French oak barriques (new and seasoned), the 2006 is impressive. Deep ruby, it is attractively scented and supple, with substantial body and ripe cherry and spice flavours, showing good complexity and texture. Savoury and firm, it should mature well."
4 STARS
-Michael Cooper's A Buyers Guide to New Zealand Wines 2008
"Another wine that is going to improve for some cellaring. There are good boysenberry aromas that are followed by sound fruit flavours married to ripe, chunky tannins."
-TiZWine Magazine, Feb 2008
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