Size & Type
Other
$81
I was ploughing through a heap of Pinot a year ago. Time after time I found promise, yet most of the wines were missing those little things that take a wine from good to great. Clearly quality fruit, balanced wine, fresh, then something would stick out, a little problem with reduction or a hard edge of tannin, more critically a clear separation of flavours and aromas.
Then four Pinot from Valli hit the tasting bench. Boom! There it was, the missing links, harmony, seamless complexity, individuality, the little leap out of the glass saying “Drink Me”. And, the textures, yup, you guessed it, excellent.
A year later Valli’s 2016’s are true to philosophy.
Out of stock
The location of Valli’s Bannockburn Vineyard is only 20km from Gibbston in the Cromwell basin but the difference in climate is responsible for creating markedly different wines. The Bannockburn wines reflect this warmer area by displaying darker fruits, by being denser, more powerful and with longevity based more on their tannin structure, as opposed to Gibbston wines which are based more on their acidity. The soils are also windblown loess over gravelly schist but with sandier, deeper topsoil, which allows for free draining. Climate, rather than soil, attributes to the main difference in the wines.
The Bannockburn steps up the richness factor with an extra layer of structure coming in to play. A core of dark fruits is tamed by an edge of spicey stalk tannin and freshening acid. Needs a year or two to settle.
Where in the world does the magic happen?
Valli Vineyards Gibbston Highway, Gibbston, New Zealand
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