Our coolest season on record. Slightly unsettled flowering thanks to a wetter than average spring, resulting in mild 'Hen and Chicken', giving a combination of small and normal sized berries, and much lighter bunches than normal.
Low yields benefitted from drier conditions for the remainder of the ripening period, ensuring fruit was harvested in pristine condition.
All hand-picked fruit is fermented as a combination of whole berries and whole bunches, in open wooden and stainless steel fermenters, with gentle plunging. Aged for 10 months in French oak, of which about one third was new.
Will repay careful cellaring for up to 12 years.
Deep red-purple, bright and clear colour; superb rich ripe black cherry fragrance with a kiss of smoky oak, the palate remarkably full and rich, smooth and fleshy with excellent texture and immediate drinking appeal, although it has the legs to age well too. Serious structure, but also succulent, sweet and plush—almost too much of a good thing. Outstanding pinot noir.
This vintage strikes out again with suprise and intrigue, just when you think the S+S winemaking team have got the recipe right, the vineyard shows you another side entirely. Here it’s witches brew of jarred and dried aromatica. Blackberries, dark cherries, juniper and sloe berries. A bouquet of garrigue herbs, pine and poppy seeds. There is a harmony between the dark fruit and ripe herbal notes. Its a different shape entirely than what’s come before it and i’m feelin it. Savoury oak tannins support the woodsy style of black fruit. It’s a very tailored wine and has found a nice balance in a very cool vintage. Striking harmony between spice, cassis and oak. A hint of medicinal, and a luxurious almost syrupy in its richness on the palate. Serious stuff. This would be ideal with pink lamb and chermoula.