Grown on a steep, gravelly north-facing slope, this is a pinot noir that expresses its place and the vintage very well. 2007 was warm and dry, with very low crops creating intensely flavoured fruit with firm tannins. The 2007 Medhurst Pinot Noir is ruby red with bright, lifted aromas of rhubarb, cherries and spicy, smoky oak. Velvety soft after several years of bottle-ageing, the wine drinks well now, but will develop complexity and further softness with cellaring up to 7 years. If you can’t wait that long, try it with duck san choi bow.
This site has a north/west aspect and a moderate slope with good drainage. The vines are on a Vertical Shoot Position (VSP) trellis. This allows for the canopy to be open and airy for disease control yet provide shade for the development of the delicate Pinot Noir flavours and aromas. The block sees a late start to the day due to the hills to the east of the property but this is made up for by attracting the heat of the day for longer because of its aspect. Control of water and crop levels are used to maintain fruit quality. This is also enhanced by careful thinning of the fruit at veraison.
