Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Pinot Noir 2001
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Aroma: Intense, powerful aromas of black cherries and plums. Lifted floral notes also appear integrated with savory mushroom and toasty oak characters.
Palate: A full-bodied Pinot Noir with a soft full palate and well balanced acidity. Cherries and black berry fruit dominates the palate and is supported by notes of plum, mushroom and redcurrant. 100% new and used French oak lends elegance structural support and savory smoky notes.
Saint Clair Family Estate was founded in 1994 by Marlborough grapegrowing pioneers Neal and Judy Ibbotson, who in 1978 were among the first 10 growers to plant vineyards in the region. Through decades of learning, Saint Clair Family Estate has worked to identify superior Marlborough’s vineyard sites that today produce wines that are consistently awarded worldwide. Today, Neal uses his extensive viticultural expertise with Marlborough’s unique mix of climate and soils in combination with the talent of one of New Zealand’s leading winemaking teams to create acclaimed wines.
The Origin Series Sauvignon Blanc is made primarily from fruit grown in a specific sub-region of Marlborough’s lower Wairau Valley known as Dillons Point. Located near the mouth of the Wairau River as it empties into Marlborough Sound, the vineyard sites have deep, free-draining soils with layers of mineral salts, giving the wine its hint of salinity.
New Zealand Pinot Noir has jumped onto the world wine stage with recent but rapid growth in quality and recognition. Pinot Noir didn’t develop a significant presence in New Zealand until the late 1980’s, and production stayed small in the beginning. But plantings doubled between 2003 and 2013, quality jumped and the world took notice. This is partly due to the propogation of one specific clone, the Abel clone (named after the customs agent who discovered vine cuttings hidden in a boot) that is rumored to be originally from Burgundy’s famous, Domaine de la Romanee Conti.
Pinot Noir is grown throughout New Zealand, but the majority hails from the South Island. The most important North Island region is Wairarapa, near the southern tip. Here the thin, poor soils and frost danger keep yields low. But the long growing season and dramatic diurnal temperature shift lead to dry, earthy Pinot Noir wines that in good years, show terrific red fruit and lovely depth.
The South Island in New Zealand has three regions of great significance. Marlborough Pinot Noirs hail mostly from the Awatere Valley, which is slightly drier and cooler than the Wairau Valley. The grape is grown for both sparkling and still wines, with the latter showing improvement as the vines age. The Canterbury region is composed of small producers making handcrafted Pinot Noirs that show tantalizing promise. Finally, Central Otago in New Zealand is the world’s southernmost wine region. Summers here are short but extremely sunny and dry, with cold nights that preserve grape acidity. Otago Pinot Noir wines show earthy and herbal notes, as well as vivacious red fruit flavors that are as bright as they are ripe. It is unusual, in fact, to find a Pinot that is under 14% alcohol. Taken together, New Zealand Pinot Noirs offer a wealth of delightful options for fans of this variety.