Akitu A1 & A2 Central Otago Pinot Noir 2015
Akitu is the Central Otago Pinot Noir wine venture of Andrew Donaldson. Andrew established 12 ha of Pinot Noir with 45,000 vines to 6 clones on Maxwell Road, Mt Barker near Wanaka in 2002 and 2003, releasing his first vintage with the 2012s, the wine made by PJ Charteris at the nearby Maude facility. I have not tasted those inaugural wines but I’ve enjoyed the 2013s (click here to see my reviews) and the 2014s (click here to see my reviews), and reckon this is a label to watch.
Here, I review the 2015s, from a more challenging growing season. After budburst, October and November proved to be very cold with spring frosts. Flowering was later than usual with rain causing uneven fruit set. The weather improved afterwards with hot and dry periods through January to April with more mild temperatures running to a late harvest at the start of May. The resultant wines are reckoned to be a little lighter than the 2013s and 2014s, showing elegance and the acidity from a cooler growing season, and the team at Akitu are pleased with them. Here are my reviews.
Akitu A1 Central Otago Pinot Noir 2015 **** (4 stars)
Light, even ruby-red colour with slight garnet-purple hues, lighter on the rim. This has a softly concentrated and well-packed nose with aromas of savoury dark-red berry and black cherry fruit melded with dark herbs and notes of earth and black minerals, unveiling subtle and harmonious oak and whole bunch stalk detail. Medium-full bodied, the palate has a well-concentrated core of sweet dark-red and black berried fruit intermixed with dark herb and subtle whole bunch stalk elements, along with black mineral nuances. The extraction provides balanced, fine-gained tannins and the mouthfeel is enlivened by fresh, balancing, lacy acidity. This has a good line, leading to a lush, lively finish od red and black fruits and subtle herb notes. This is a moderately concentrated, sweet, dark-fruited Pinot Noir with moderately extracted, supple tannins and fresh acidity. Match with poultry and pork dishes over the next 4-5 years 70% Abel clone and 30% clone 5, the fruit fermented with 26% whole bunches to 13.81% alc., the wine aged 10 months in 22% new French oak. 230 dozen made. 18.0 / 20 Oct 2016 RRP $59.00
Akitu A2 Central Otago Pinot Noir 2015 **** (4 stars)
Light ruby-red colour with some depth and slight purple hues, paler edged. The nose is fresh and elegant with fragrant aromas of red cherry fruit entwined with fresh thyme herbs and delicate notes of whole bunch stalk elements. Medium-full bodied, the palate is lively and fresh with brisk acidity enlivening the fruit flavours of red cherries and red florals. The fruit has a degree of sweetness and lusciousness. Notes of fresh herbs and whole cluster stalk nuances add detail, and the palate us underlined by light, fine-grained tannin extraction. Some alcoholic power carries the wine to a light, nuanced finish of red cherries and florals. This is a fresh and lively, red cherry-fruited Pinot Noir with subtle floral, herb and stalk nuances and light, supple tannins. Serve with salmon and tuna, and poultry dishes over the next 4 years. 61% Abel clone with 39% clone 5, the fruit fermented to 13.84% alc. with 31% whole bunches, the wine aged 10 months in 13% new French oak. 550 dozen made. 17.5 / 20 Oct 2016 RRP $39.90