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This vintage has produced a Pinot Noir displaying opulent rich aromatics; lush dark fruits of the forest dominate the aroma and these are underpinned by sweet brown spice notes. The wine displays lovely elegance and flow with striking precision and clarity. On the palate it kicks off with a plush dense fruit of the forest entry, this plushness then moves beautifully into the mid palate, after which fine elegant textural tannins frame fruit and acidity on a lengthy finish.   CELLARING POTENTIAL Mt Difficulty Bannockburn Pinot Noir will improve for 7-10 years given optimal vintage and cellaring conditions. VINTAGE 2013     The growing season in 2013 kicked off with a cool spring. Frosts in early November reduced production from Station Block, at the top of the Cromwell basin, but Bannockburn was untouched. Although the cool spring continued after that, temperatures warmed just before Christmas in time to make for a very successful flowering. January was cooler and wetter than average and then February onwards was very warm and dry. We experienced a protracted veraison (the point at which the grapes stop growing and start to ripen, characterised by colour change) leading to increased variability in ripeness. To counter this we introduced a late colour thin to ensure fruit arrived in optimal condition at harvest. Early autumn returned to more classic settled Central autumnal conditions, and harvest started on the 3rd of April, continuing through until the 3rd of May. It was a normal yielding year, with nice focused acidity and interesting flavour profiles reflecting, to some degree, the variability of the season.... more »