Akitu A1 Black Label Pinot Noir 2019/20

Accolades:
95/100 – Jamie Goode, Wine Anorak
93/100 – Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous
92/100 – Bob Campbell MW
5 stars – Michael Cooper

“Considering the heat of this vintage, this has turned out really well. This is taut and aromatic with fresh, vivid cherry and raspberry fruit. The palate has a lovely energy, showing bright, elegant red and black cherry fruit with a silky texture: there’s some finesse and a fine herbal quality sitting under the fruit. There’s a lovely fruit quality here, but it blends so beautifully with the more savoury, structural elements. Very fine.” – Jamie Goode, Wine Anorak

“This is a delicate example of Central Otago, diverging from the archetypal style. Lifted, pure and intriguing, with festive spices, it is light in body, although the 14% alcohol brings a touch of weight to the midpalate. The aromatics wax and wane, offering violets, smoked paprika, and then along come orange peel and rhubarb on the next sniff, with cherries bringing up the rear. I’m a sucker for this wine’s intriguing scent, although I’d love a little more substance in terms of concentration if I’m being a nitpicker. Drink 2020 – 2030.” – Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous

“Estate-grown 380 metres above sea level at Mt Barker, in the Wanaka sub-region, the barrel-aged 2018 vintage is a very elegant red, full of youthful drive. Ruby hued, mouthfilling and sweet-fruited, it is silky and savoury, with cherryish, spicy, nutty flavours, showing excellent poise and complexity. Best drinking 2022+. This wine is a Classic.” – Michael Cooper

“Light, fresh and fragrant pinot noir with floral, spice, red cherry and subtle fresh herb flavours. Youthful but approachable with good potential for bottle development. The wine has an appealing and ethereal texture.” – Bob Campbell MW

Tasting Note: Every sense is activated from the first pass, this wine is all about depth and complexity. Spice, wild herbs and brooding plummy fruit emanate from the glass with an airy perfume. Intriguing brown spice rack and graphite infuse with leafy sous bois aromatics. The nose is highly detailed – compact and focused – it should open impressively with time. Very fine and silky entry, plenty of structure over a precise and linear framework. Delicate form with harmonic acidity driving line and length. The balance between fruit, tannin and acid is special and suggests a fascinating voyage ahead. Detail, perfumed aromatics, silk-like texture and subtle persistence define this year’s A1. Compelling now but definitely one for the cellar, 5 to 7 years to the high plateau of evolution. Food – Birds: big or small, wild or farmed, but duck with potatoes roasted in said bird’s fat would be perfect. Salad, as usual, entirely optional.

Winemaking Notes: Clones: 53% Abel, 16% 777, 11.5% 115, 10% Clone 5, 6.5% 667, 3% 114 | Treatment: 38% whole bunch, balance whole berry, 15% new French oak | Volume: 10,648 litres – 1,183 x 12b cases equivalent | Technical: Alcohol 14.15%, TA 5.8g/l, pH 3.63 | Harvest Dates: 30th March – 6th April 2018 | Bottling Date: 28th March 2019

Alcohol: 14.0%

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Wanaka, Central Otago, New Zealand

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