2022 Pinot Noir

Vineyard

The Pinot Noir from Bloodwood is grown on the top 12 rows of the Maurice Vineyard..

Yes we know that’s a bit confusing given that the Maurice is a style of wine which isn’t necessarily tied to a particular plot of ground..but..bear with me. The original few rows planted in 1984 were, and are to be found in the middle of our original Cabernet Sauvignon planting. We were anxious to see how the fruit performed without any special Pinophiliac attention. It did very well, so the next five rows were planted at the very top of the Maurice vineyard block. Both plantings were to MV6 clone, however we now have, in addition, two hundred or so each of clones 777; 114 and 115.adjoining the Maurice vineyard. These vines are all close planted on an easterly slope of 20 degrees in a north/south orientation and Scott‐Henry trellised to open to the western side of the vine.

This gives a bit of added light and warmth to the ripening grapes in cooler years.

Vintage Conditions

The Weather At Bloodwood is always the same; It's Different!

Vintage 2022 reminded us of those we used to experience in the mid eighties and early nineties. It was very cool and late by this centuries standards beginning with Chardonnay on the 16th March and ending with ripe enough Shiraz in late April. Yields were moderate because we pruned for tough ripening conditions and although the acid and pH levels were on the bright side, fruit flavours were lovely. Given the tough conditions, (733 mm during the October to April growing season) it was vital that fungicide programmes were consistently protective to ensure good clean fruit at vintage.

Luckily, we had a run of dry and warm days from 4th of February to the 25th of March only interrupted by a moderate fall in early March which dragged this vintage home in good clean shape here at Bloodwood.

Winemaking

For details of this wine you need look no further than the last entry in the “Styles” section of this site. http://www.bloodwood.biz/styles/63-red.html

Because of the very small quantity (normally no more than 750 litres) produced from the vineyard, we consider ourselves lucky to make two or three barrels of Pinot Noir each vintage. Because of the consistent moisture during the growing season, 2022 provided four 300 litre hogsheads and 150 litres of top-up wine. Even with this bonus volume, there is little room to engage in any fancy wine making or blending with Bloodwood Pinot Noir.

The grapes were de-stemmed, cold soaked and open fermented under natural yeasts with gentle hand plunging. The pressed wine was transferred warm to barrel where it finished malo-lactic conversion, and after 6 months, it was bench-trialled and transferred unfiltered into bottle in October 2022.

Wine Analysis

pH 3.61

Acidity 6.74 g/l

13.5% Al/Vol

2019 Pinot Noir

Vineyard

The Pinot Noir from Bloodwood is grown on the top 12 rows of the Maurice Vineyard..

Yes we know that’s a bit confusing given that the Maurice is a style of wine which isn’t necessarily tied to a particular plot of ground..but..bear with me. The original few rows planted in 1984 were, and are to be found in the middle of our original Cabernet Sauvignon planting. We were anxious to see how the fruit performed without any special Pinophiliac attention. It did very well, so the next five rows were planted at the very top of the Maurice vineyard block. Both plantings were to MV6 clone, however we now have, in addition, two hundred or so each of clones 777; 114 and 115.adjoining the Maurice

vineyard. These vines are all close planted on an easterly slope of 20 degrees in a north/south orientation and Scott‐Henry trellised to open to the western side of the vine.

This gives a bit of added light and warmth to the ripening grapes in cooler years.

Vintage Conditions

The Weather At Bloodwood is always the same; It's Different!

Winter and Spring rainfall for the growing season leading up to vintage 2019 were around the median with 149 mm for the months of June, July and August and 208 mm for the calendar spring months. There was no run-off into irrigation storages and the long-term drying trend continues. After record heat in January 2019, the run-up to and through harvest was extraordinarily dry and stable. Between 1/2/2019 and 17/3/2019 we only recorded 3.8 mm of rain with temperatures 0.9C warmer than the same period for 2018.

Quality of each vintage is often determined by the stability of the ripening months, so 2019 holds above average promise for us here at Bloodwood even though yields were well down around 30% on a normal (sic) year. This is closely related to the continuing and intensifying drought we are all suffering and we give thanks for our limited access to irrigation.

Winemaking

For details of this wine you need look no further than the last entry in the “Styles” section of this site. http://www.bloodwood.biz/styles/63-red.html Because of the very small quantity (normally no more than 750 litres) produced from the vineyard, we consider ourselves lucky to make two or three barrels of Pinot Noir each vintage. 2019 provided three 300 litre hogsheads and 100 litres of topping material. As a consequence, there is

little room to engage in any fancy wine making or blending with Bloodwood Pinot Noir.

The grapes were de-stemmed, cold soaked and open fermented under natural yeasts with regular gentle hand plunging. The pressed wine was transferred warm to barrel where it finished malo-lactic conversion, and after 6 months in barrel, it was bench-trialled and transferred unfiltered into bottle in October 2019.

pH 3.41

Acidity 6.7 g/l

13.1% Al/Vol

Tasting Notes

Gorgeous bright carmine in colour, this positively gentle Pinot Noir’s bouquet of dusty, cherry chocolate and fresh, lipstick red berry fruits are caressed in restrained, fine-grained French oak tannins.

If ladies old handbags have an elegant intrigue about them, then so does this beautifully textured Bloodwood Pinot Noir.

Normal pricing per bottle is as follows:

Total price would normally be $564 including freight.

Distinctive Dozen offer is $500, including freight.