FIRST PLANTED IN 1999, ALMA IS THE FINEST EXPRESSION OF TE MATA ESTATE'S COMMITMENT TO GREAT NEW ZEALAND PINOT NOIR. ALMA EXPRESSES BROODING CHERRY AND DELICIOUS RIPE, DARK PLUM FLAVOURS THAT UNFURL WITH SAVOURY WILDWOOD SCENTS OF TRUFFLE AND SPICE.

ORIGIN:

Alma celebrates Dr James Thomson, a hero of the 1854 Battle of the Alma during the Crimean War and forefather to Te Mata Estate's Buck family. Knowing the vanquished enemy soldiers had already contracted cholera, Dr Thomson volunteered to tend to their wounds, saving the lives of over four hundred, and sacrificing his own in the process. The medal he was awarded for this selfless act of valour appears on the label of Alma Pinot Noir.

VINEYARDS

Separate parcels of fully ripened pinot noir grapes were hand-harvested from Te Mata Estate's Woodthorpe Vineyards between 26 and 29 February 2020.

WINEMAKING

The individual lots were each destemmed and given a traditional warm-plunged fermentation. The resulting wines underwent extended maceration on skins before pressing. The separate wines were then run to a mixture of new and seasoned French oak barriques for 11 months' maturation.

TASTING NOTE

Brilliant crimson with a royal purple edge, Alma Pinot Noir '20 has an entrancing nose of wild strawberry and cherry syrup, oriental spice, sea salt and woodsmoke. The complex palate deepens into five spice, truffle, and earth notes, with just the slightest fragrance of Earl Grey tea. Bright red fruit sparkles among a filigree of tannin. Alma Pinot Noir '20 has presence and persistence throughout, with prettiness at its heart.

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