Astrolabe Wrekin Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019/2020

Wrekin Vineyard at Southern Valleys (Upper Brancott Valley to be precise) of Marlborough are planted with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc, taken care by their proprietor Jan and Andrew Johns.

The soils, based on glacial out-wash, are some of the oldest in the province and range from deep loam to tight clay on a steeply sloping hillside. The vines in the vineyard are managed by standard trellis with pruning to two canes and vertical shoot positioning. Vines are trimmed closely, well tucked, and leaf plucking is minimal. Cluster thinning is used to ensure light crops and evenly ripened and balanced
fruit. The vineyard is manged with biodynamic practices since 2016.

This wine is made by 100% Pinot Noir, though there are four clones involved including 777, 667, 115 and 10/5.

2019 growing season was warm and dry, with a shorter period between bud-burst and harvest than typical. Drought conditions prevailed pre-harvest, and some timely rain towards the end helped vine health and grape flavour development. Berry size was smaller and
bunch weight less than the previous two seasons, and crop loads were well balanced to soils and vine vigour.

The harvest of 2019 finished by 26th March. All fruits are hand-picked, destemmed, cold soaked for six days, fermented wild. Aged in French oak barrels, 33% new, for 10 months, where it underwent natural malolactic fermentation. Selected barrels were then blended and aged for an additional seven months. Bottled 21st July, 2020.