Saint Clair – Pinot Noir ‘Omaka Reserve’ – 2021

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£27.31

SKU 5451721A Categories , ,

A lush, full-bodied Pinot Noir with rosehip and raspberry tones complemented by vanilla oak.

ABV:

13%

Vintage:

2021

Size:

75cl

Light Bodied

Full Bodied

Country

New Zealand

Region

Marlborough

Sub-Region

Marlborough

Producer / Winery

Saint Clair

Grape Variety

Pinot Noir

Style

Red Wine

Winemaker

Hamish Clark, Kyle Thompson

Closure

Screwcap

Other Classifications

Suitable for
Vegetarians

Suitable for
Vegans

Contains
Egg

Contains
Milk

Contains
Sulphites

No
Sulphites

Organic
Wine

Biodynamic
Wine

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ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
Neal and Judy Ibbotson were pioneers in the Marlborough wine industry, first planting vineyards in the valley in 1978 and then establishing Saint Clair Family Estate in 1994. They own 160 hectares of vineyard in 10 different Marlborough locations chosen specifically for the attributes of their individual “terroir” and ability to produce top quality grapes. Neal Ibbotson combines his extensive expertise in viticulture with the talent of one of New Zealand’s leading winemaking teams. Since 1994, when wines from the first vintage all won medals including gold, the name Saint Clair has been synonymous with quality and its award-winning record continues today. This is a sentiment shared by Bob Campbell MW, who says “Saint Clair now makes the country’s and perhaps the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc”.

THE VINTAGE:
2021 was characterised by a lower yield, as it was a very dry year. Springtime flowering conditions were not favourable with cooler weather than usual which led to a large reduction in yield. Additionally, some late spring frosts occurred which affected small pockets of vineyards across the Marlborough valley. The result has been smaller bunch weights, smaller berries and lower numbers of berries. However, whilst the quantity is down the quality is excellent. The start of March produced typical Marlborough weather of warm days and cool nights, perfect ripening and harvesting conditions.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
The Maori word Omaka means ‘place of the stream’. The grapes are sourced from a single vineyard in the Delta region within the Southern Valleys subregion, where the vines are grown in clay soils. A naturally low cropping vineyard that produces tight bunches with small berries, which intensifies the wine’s flavour and concentration. Some of the grapes come from the Burgundian clone 115. The fruit was harvested when it had reached full physiological ripeness and maximum flavour maturity.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
The fruit was cold soaked for five days prior to fermentation to help extract maximum flavour and to enhance colour stability. 18% whole cluster bunches were added to the fermentation to add a stems component and another layer of complexity. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks with selected yeasts; the fermenting must was hand plunged up to six times daily at the peak of fermentation. At dryness the wine was pressed, then racked off the gross lees to a mixture of 40% new French oak and older seasoned 225 litre oak barriques. The wine was aged for 10 months during which time it underwent malolactic conversion. The wine was then carefully extracted from oak, blended and prepared for bottling.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
Concentrated flavours of black cherry, blackcurrant, Kalamata olive, and perfumed wild flowers, lead to an elegant palate with a structure reminiscent of finely powdered cocoa. The finish is long incorporating freshly roasted coffee beans, toasty oak and spice.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Pinot Noir 100%.

PLEASE NOTE: The technical information on this wine is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. This information and bottle images may be subject to change according to vintage.

Description

- SHARE -

 

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
Neal and Judy Ibbotson were pioneers in the Marlborough wine industry, first planting vineyards in the valley in 1978 and then establishing Saint Clair Family Estate in 1994. They own 160 hectares of vineyard in 10 different Marlborough locations chosen specifically for the attributes of their individual “terroir” and ability to produce top quality grapes. Neal Ibbotson combines his extensive expertise in viticulture with the talent of one of New Zealand’s leading winemaking teams. Since 1994, when wines from the first vintage all won medals including gold, the name Saint Clair has been synonymous with quality and its award-winning record continues today. This is a sentiment shared by Bob Campbell MW, who says “Saint Clair now makes the country’s and perhaps the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc”.

THE VINTAGE:
2021 was characterised by a lower yield, as it was a very dry year. Springtime flowering conditions were not favourable with cooler weather than usual which led to a large reduction in yield. Additionally, some late spring frosts occurred which affected small pockets of vineyards across the Marlborough valley. The result has been smaller bunch weights, smaller berries and lower numbers of berries. However, whilst the quantity is down the quality is excellent. The start of March produced typical Marlborough weather of warm days and cool nights, perfect ripening and harvesting conditions.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
The Maori word Omaka means ‘place of the stream’. The grapes are sourced from a single vineyard in the Delta region within the Southern Valleys subregion, where the vines are grown in clay soils. A naturally low cropping vineyard that produces tight bunches with small berries, which intensifies the wine’s flavour and concentration. Some of the grapes come from the Burgundian clone 115. The fruit was harvested when it had reached full physiological ripeness and maximum flavour maturity.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
The fruit was cold soaked for five days prior to fermentation to help extract maximum flavour and to enhance colour stability. 18% whole cluster bunches were added to the fermentation to add a stems component and another layer of complexity. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks with selected yeasts; the fermenting must was hand plunged up to six times daily at the peak of fermentation. At dryness the wine was pressed, then racked off the gross lees to a mixture of 40% new French oak and older seasoned 225 litre oak barriques. The wine was aged for 10 months during which time it underwent malolactic conversion. The wine was then carefully extracted from oak, blended and prepared for bottling.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
Concentrated flavours of black cherry, blackcurrant, Kalamata olive, and perfumed wild flowers, lead to an elegant palate with a structure reminiscent of finely powdered cocoa. The finish is long incorporating freshly roasted coffee beans, toasty oak and spice.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Pinot Noir 100%.

Additional information

Weight 1.2 kg
Dimensions 7.5 × 7.5 × 30 cm
Country

New Zealand

Region

Marlborough

Sub-region

Marlborough

Producer / Winery

Saint Clair

Winemaker

Hamish Clark, Kyle Thompson

Style

Red Wine

Grape Variety

Pinot Noir

Vintage

2021

Alcohol % (ABV)

13%

Body Value (A being light-bodied, E being full-bodied)

C

Residual Sugar

0.4 g/L

Contains Sulphites

Yes

Vegetarian

Vegan

Milk

No

Eggs

Yes

Organic

No

Biodynamic

No

Format Available

75cl

Closure

Screwcap

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£27.31

SKU 5451721A Categories , ,