Little Beauty Black Edition Pinot Noir 2019, Marlborough

Seven years old, from their best parcels. Pour it against a village Burgundy and watch the room argue.

Site location Single Vineyard, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough. Sub-region: 'Southern Valleys'

Style Summary The 2019 Black Edition Pinot Noir is a premium barrel aged complex wine made from hand harvested, ripe Dijon clone fruit displaying all the intensity yet suppleness that Pinot Noir enjoys in a great season.

Winemaker Eveline Fraser.

Oenology The fruit was 100% de-stemmed into stainless steel open top fermenters and cold soaked for several days before the ferments started with naturally occurring yeasts. During ferment, each batch was plunged three times daily to gently extract the tannin and colour. Once dry, each batch was held at 20°C for a post ferment maceration of several weeks before being pressed off separately and transferred into French Oak (225 litre, small percentage of new oak) barriques for maturation (almost 12-months). Oak selection Sylvain and Mercurey. Black Edition is only made in exceptional vintages. Black Edition is Eveline's favourite (top) barrels for that vintage. Bottling date: 12 March 2020. Colour & Aroma: Crimson. A hint of garnet. The 2019 Black Edition Pinot Noir aroma is distinctively rich. An exciting mix of coffee mocha, black plum, black cherry, black peach, redcurrant leaf, leathery, cured meat, black pepper, farmyard, savoury herb and baked red fruit compote. Here the journey starts…

Palate The palate is weighty, smooth and supple showcasing ripe, red fruits (plum, cherry, raspberry), combined with cinnamon quill, floral notes like violets and forest undergrowth. Some tannin and earthy notes too. It is alluring and elegant.

Food pairing Lamb, Venison, softer textured steak, Veal, Duck Quail & Pheasant. Enjoy!