2023 La Ferme de Sato Les Violettes
Sato, Central Otago, New Zealand
- Clone 667 Pinot Noir from La Ferme de Sato, made entirely as whole bunches.
- Carbonic start, foot crushed over 25 days, 22 months in neutral oak.
- Fine and fluid, with strawberry, citrus peel and a long, linear finish.
- Vineyard
- La Ferme de Sato, Pisa
- Soil
- Sandy loam and loess on the top blocks, silt loam below, over schist and quartz gravel
- Clone
- 667
- Grape
- 100% Pinot Noir
- Whole bunch
- 100%
- Production
- About 600 bottles
Winemaking
Whole bunches went into a small fermenter under CO2 for carbonic maceration. From day 11 the grapes were crushed by foot a layer at a time, with one gentle wet cap a day, for 25 days in all with no pumping. Basket pressed and aged 22 months in neutral French oak with no sulphite added until racking. No fining or filtration; released after a year in bottle.
Tasting Notes
Just-ripe strawberry aromas mingle with citrus peel and white peach. Medium bodied and fluid, with finesse and real drinkability, yet the fine tannins are clearly present and draw the wine into a long, linear finish. Needs a little time to knit together; best from 2027.
Distributed in Australia by Principal Wine.