Terrace Edge, Pinot Noir, Canterbury, New Zealand, 2016

From a small, family-run vineyard where the Chapmans exercise ‘ultra-fastidious’ care in the vineyard and winery. In 2018, cool autumn nights from late March slowed ripening, though good dry weather allowed for a long hang-time through to full ripening. Destemmed grapes were cold-soaked in open-top fermenters, with natural fermentation starting after about five days, manual cap-plunging and post-fermentation maceration of up to three weeks; the wine was then pressed into French oak barriques, 25% new, and aged for 11 months. Really fresh on the nose with very pure fruit character of red berries and red cherry. The palate is an intriguing combination of creamy texture, sweet red fruits and plums with gentle herbal touches, and an underlying, drying layer of dark-spice clove and liquorice notes. Tannins are nicely softened: balanced and very drinkable.