2010 Technical Information
Technical information: Pinot Noir 2010
Technical information: Pinot Gris 2010
The grapes, after being handpicked, were destemmed to the press where they underwent 3 hours of skin contact. The juice was racked with light lees to ferment tank to assist mouth feel, complexity and texture. The wine underwent a long cold ferment at 11-12 degrees C over the period of a month to retain nice fresh aromatics, and then stayed on its gross fermentation lees, stirred weekly for 4 months, again building texture. The wine was lightly fined with isinglass, filtered and bottled in October. Alc: 13.5%
Viticulture
First plantings 2001, continuing until 2004.
Clones: 115/777/667/5
Rootstock: Swartman 101.14 330.9
Plants per hectare: 2500
Row Spacing: 2.5m
Plant Spacing: 1.67m
Fruiting Wire: 1m
Spur pruning
Trained to VSP
Desired crop attained by shoot and bunch thinning
7 irrigation zones allow for irrigation and fertigation to soil type and plant need
The site’s hilly contours mean frost fighting is not required
The canopy is managed by wires
2008: Superb conditions, almost ‘too good”. Thinning to control crop size was critical and resulted in a successful harvest. We bottled a small quantity for Gate 20 Two in February, for release October 2009. Our Pinot Gris was a component in Mt Difficulty Pinot Gris 2008 (Estate Wines)
2009: A cool wet season made it a challenge for both viticulture and winemaker. However, we had a very good fruit set which paved the way for excellent clean fruit and a successful harvest. We will bottle both Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris from this season under Gate 20 Two.
Harvesting time is controlled by the winemaker. Clones on individual blocks within the vineyard are picked and stored separately for later tasting and blending.