2009 Marchand and Burch Gibraltar Rock Pinot Noir - Tasting Notes
Vintage Conditions
The 2008/2009 growing season was preceded by below average rainfall for the winter of 08, but it was still the best winter rain for several seasons. The spring was also punctuated with rain but the wind and cooler weather did affect set in many varieties with the Gibraltar Rock Pinot Noir setting only a tiny crop. The growing season was cooler and varieties ripened later than average. However a benign end to the season saw all varieties ripen perfectly with higher natural acids and fine tannin structures. A great Pinot Noir year.
Vineyard
The 2009 Gibralter Rock Pinot Noir is sourced from the biodynamically managed vineyard of this name in the Porongorup sub-region of the Great Southern in WA. This north facing site is one of the oldest vineyards in the sub-region and has typical granitic and lateritic loams of varying depths. The yield in 2009 was a tiny 0.33 T/ha.
Fruit and Must Handling
Handpicked parcels of fruit were transported by refrigerated trailer to the Denmark winery. The chilled bunches were hand sorted to remove damage, disease and leaf then gently destemmed to open fermenters. Pre fermentation cold soaking for 5 days was used to extract maximum colour and optimise fruit flavour.
Fermentation
Spontaneous fermentation was used as this allows the natural yeast population to dominate the yeast population making for a more complex base wine. The ferment size was 1 or 4T and all were handplunged and pumped over from 2-4 times/day. This cap management varies according to the individual ferment needs.
Post fermentation skin maceration for 4 weeks was used to build structure and palate weight in the wine.
Maturation
The finished dry wine was matured for 7 months in French barriques with around a 33% new oak component. A spontaneous malolactic fermentation was allowed to occur during this period.
Wine Notes
The 2009 Gibraltar Rock Pinot Noir has benefited from complete ripening in the moderate and benign conditions to produce a wine of great structure and personality.
Color: The hue of this wine is deep red with purple hues and a black heart.
Nose: The nose has a delicate perfume with black cherry, spice and kirsch characters that are still quite closed and crying for air.
Palate: The palate is richly textured with sweet glossy cherry stone fruit with whiffs of earth, mushroom and cured meat. The Gibraltar Rock has a powerful mouthfilling middle palate from the extra time on skins. There is a plush texture to match the structure which has supporting subtle spicy oak notes. A Pinot Noir of great power and texture with a great aging potential.
It will need another 2 years to show it’s potential and will improve for up to 5 years.
Technical Notes
Harvest Date: 20th March
Alcohol: 13.6%
pH: 3.53
TA: 6.6
Maturation: 33% new barriques, 67% seasoned. Damy and Dargaud and Jaegle