Nepenthe Charleston Pinot Noir 2007
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Up here in the cool heights of the Adelaide Hills, Nepenthe produces some soul reposing potions of their own: uncompromising wines of outstanding quality and internationally recognised distinction. Wines that, strangely enough, have been impressing both critics and consumers with their varietal faithfulness and subtle Adelaide Hills nuances. But wines this good undertake a journey as arduous and epic as Homer's famous hero - a journey that Nepenthe, like the gods, determine with immutable fascination.
Nepenthe's commitment to consistently high quality wine starts with the land. In fact, they're so dedicated to quality that they formed two specialized companies to deal with the demands of their high altitude vines - Nepenthe Viticulture and Nepenthe Irrigation.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
Adelaide refers to the diverse super zone in South Australia containing the Mount Lofty Ranges Zone (Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Plains and Clare Valley), Fleurieu Zone (Currency Creek, Kangaroo Island, Langhorne Creek, McLaren Vale, and Southern Fleurieu) and Barossa Zone (Barossa Valley and Eden Valley).
The Adelaide Hills region is distinguished and beautiful, offering a cool respite in the summer for Adelaide city dwellers. With vineyards planted fairly high in elevation at 1,500 to 1,800 feet, it is known for particularly fine, citrus-driven Sauvignon Blanc.
The Adelaide Plains is a hot region northwest of the Adelaide Hills that produces approachable, value-driven wines.