Iona Monopole Elgin Highlands Pinot Noir
Perfumed with a floral nose of rose petals, black and red cherries, strawberries and underlying spice notes. This is classic, focussed Elgin Highlands Pinot Noir.
Description:
The 2023 Elgin Highlands Pinot Noir is perfumed with a floral nose of rose petals, black and red cherries, strawberries and underlying spice notes. The palate is textured, succulent and complex, with a long savoury finish. Vibrant acidity and fine grained chalky tannins make this a powerful and exceptional age worthy wine. This is classic, focussed Pinot Noir.
Winemaking:
Grapes were hand harvested into small crates and spent overnight in a cold room. Extensive bunch sorting by hand prior to destemming occured. Bunches were destemmed without crushing. Grapes were cold soaked for 5-7 days prior to the start of fermentation. Fermentation occured naturally in open top fermenters. A combination of gentle punchdowns and pumpovers by hand 2 times per day, depending on requirements, were used during fermentation where the temperature peaked at 28 C.
The wines were transferred to 500L and 300L French oak barrels where malolactic fermentation took place (20% new wood, the rest 2nd, 3rd and 4th fill). Maturation in oak was for 12 months, on the lees for the full period. After ageing for 12 months in barrel, the wines were racked and blended (47% Kloof, 36% Kroon, 17% Beeskamp) in stainless steel tank. The wines were clarified naturally for a period of 2 months before bottling.
Vintage Notes:
After below-average winter rainfall, an unusually wet spring ensued. Warmer and drier weather during November, December and January accelerated the ripening process and at this stage we expected harvest to be a week or two earlier than in 2022.
February and March were characterised by very cool temperatures and unusually high rainfall. Increase in disease pressure necessitated that we monitor the vineyards more carefully and do more precise canopy work.
The cooler conditions during February and March slowed down the ripening process of the vines. The resulting wines are showing beautiful expressive fruit, with lovely fruit concentration and bright acidities, giving the wine great vibrancy and tension.
ALCOHOL: 13.7%
RESIDUAL SUGAR: 2.5 g/l
TOTAL ACIDITY: 5.3 g/l
PH: 3.4
What's in the box
Iona Monopole Elgin Highlands Pinot Noir 750 ml
