2021 Clos Ostler Carolines Pinot Noir

Winemaker's notes

2020 was a stunning season, warm and dry with just the right amount of heat when needed in the middle of flowering mid-December, giving the vines energy to set small, intensely flavoured berries. Each clone used, contributes its own personality to the final wine with the plush UCD6, 667 and 777 clones offsetting the more structural 115 and Abel. By keeping the ferments separate in barrel right through maturation we were able to follow the evolution of the wine.

Using only Burgundian coopers 228L barrique and keeping the new barrel proportion closer to 20%. The colour is a satisfyingly deep ruby/magenta with garnet hues, ideal for a fine young Pinot Noir. The aromas are distinctly ripe and obviously Clos Ostler – red and dark currants, raspberries, cherries and a touch of damson plum. The spice from the ripe seeds is intoxicating giving a delicious brown baking spice aroma of clove, nutmeg and anise. All this is accented by the most delicate yet intense dark liquorice French oak. The palate is immensely satisfying with a delicious sweet ripe fruit entry that builds in intensity as it is warmed in the mouth. Layers of fruit sit beautifully poised with more of those red and dark fruits sitting in the mid-palate without being heavy or clunky.

Powdery and silky tannins provide the perfect foil for richness of the fruit and gentle acidity holds the wine together. It is a classic Caroline’s in a similar mold to the 2010 and 2016.