Burn Cottage Pinot Noir Valli Vineyard 2018

Produucer Notes - The 2017-18 growing season was unique with the hottest summer on record for Central Otago as well as the wettest February.The rain served as welcome natural irrigationafter a very dry start to summer.We harvested grapes for this wine two weeks earlier than on average. The warmth of the season rewarded us with great fruit concentration while still retaining fresh acidity. The nose is incredibly fragrant with aromas of plum, cherry and mulberry that are interwoven with savory notes of mushroom, leather and earthy loam. The wine is highly textural and exudes the earthiness of previous vintages, a characteristic that we now regard as a hallmark of this Burn Cottage site. The palate is generous and dynamic with fine tannin and great length. This Pinot Noir is highly approachable at release but should continue to evolve for 8+ years. For Valli, it is a fascinating journey learning about this vineyard through very different growing seasons.We continue to observe some significant characteristics of this place that are evident no matter what role nature plays in a given vintage -and she played a leading role in 2018!Working with Burn Cottage has helped us achieve greater perspective about our own vineyards as well as helping us hone our winemaking intuition. Above all we are lucky to share a wonderful collaborative experience with people we both admire and enjoy spending time with.