TASTING NOTES

Always a beautifully perfumed wine, the 2018 Capella Pinot Noir has ripe cherry and summer berry fruit flavours with earthy complexity enveloped in gorgeous velvety texture and fine, silky tannin. The perfume and pure fruits are a signature of Capella Vineyard; the juicy, ripe palate with a little extra oomph reflect the season of 2018.

SEASON

There were no major heatwaves in the 2018 season; nevertheless, it was a warm season overall and the harvest was a little early. Cool weather and regular rain up until Christmas made a slow start to the season, setting up good ground moisture and vine health coming into summer. Yields were potentially high and judicious fruit thinning was required to obtain maximum quality fruit. An extended dry, mild patch over January and February was excellent for Pinot Noir, helping create excellent depth of flavour balanced with lively acidity.

WINEMAKING

This wine is from mature vines of the MV6 and 115 clone. The fruit was handpicked into small baskets and chilled overnight before destemming and sorting by hand. Wild yeast ferment in small open fermenters with hand plunging was followed 11 months maturation in a selection of Burgundian oak barrels, about 40% new. Meticulous blending has created a wine that shows the best of Capella Vineyard and season 2018.