2020 Te Mata Estate Alma Pinot Noir, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Introduction

Alma celebrates Dr. James Thomson, a hero of the 1854 Battle of the Alma during the Crimean War and forefather to Te Mata Estate’s Buck family. Knowing the vanquished enemy soldiers had already contracted cholera, Dr. Thomson volunteered to tend to their wounds, saving the lives of over four hundred, and sacrificing his own in the process. The medal he was awarded for this selfless act of valour appears on the label of Alma Pinot Noir.

Vineyard Profile

Separate parcels of fully ripened Pinot Noir grapes were hand-harvested from Te Mata Estate’s Woodthorpe Vineyards between February 26 – 29, 2020.

Appellation: Hawke's Bay

Vinification

The individual lots were each destemmed and given a traditional warm-plunged fermentation. The resulting wines underwent extended maceration on skins before pressing. The separate wines were then run to a mixture of new and seasoned French oak barriques for 11 months’ maturation.

Technical Information

Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir

Alcohol: 13.5%

TA: 5.1 g/L

p H: 3.62

Tasting Notes

Brilliant crimson with a royal purple edge, Alma Pinot Noir 2020 has an entrancing nose of wild strawberry and cherry syrup, oriental spice, sea salt and woodsmoke. The complex palate deepens into five spice, truffle and earth notes, with just the slightest fragrance of Earl Grey tea. Bright red fruit sparkles among a filigree of tannin. Alma Pinot Noir 2020 has presence and persistence throughout, with prettiness at its heart.