Pooley Jack Denis Pooley Pinot Noir

One of the wettest winters on record preceded the 2022 vintage, as did a chilly, dry spring and summer with significant humidity. All of these elements combined to produce healthy canopies and bunch numbers. The chilly circumstances, particularly around flowering time, resulted in some poor fruit set in early blooming cultivars. This resulted in a mixture of tiny and large berries, lowering total yields and consumption in those types. The vintage began a few days later than usual, but due to excessive humidity and a reduced diurnal range, our late-ripening types were picked slightly earlier than typical. Overall, a good vintage.

Fruit was hand picked, 80% destemmed and 20% whole bunch. Wild fermentation on skins for 12 days then a 10 day post ferment maceration. Matured for 11 months in 50% new French oak barriques (Cavin and St Martin).

On the nose, there are brooding notes of cedar, violets, cherry, and warming spice. Blackberries, wild mushrooms, and black cherries enchant the palette, with earthy and savoury tobacco undertones. This wine has a controlled restraint, with a crushed velvet texture and pitch-perfect acidity.