Lethbridge Pinot Noir 2023

This Pinot Noir is Lethbridge’s representation of the broader Geelong region, marrying fruit from their own site in the Moorabool Valley with four other sites from the Valley and the Bellarine Peninsula. The Hat Rock vineyard in Bellarine was planted in 1996 on clay and limestone soils and is home to clones MV6, 114 and 115. Suma, also in Bellarine and facing the ocean, was planted in 1999 to MV6 on thin red clay soils. The Moorabool Valley sites include Hillside Haven, planted in 1998 on basalt granite soils, and Springbank, planted on red clay over limestone in 2001 to MV6, 114 and 115. Then there’s the Lethbridge home vineyard. Planted in 1996, it’s the Moorabool Valley’s coolest site. It sits at 270 metres with black clay topsoil on bluestone and honeycomb basalt above limestone bedrock.

Each parcel fermented separately in open-top vessels with high proportions of bunches (approximately 50% overall). The ferments were kept cool and handled gently over 20 days, with once-a-day punch-downs giving way to just a wetting of the cap as the days progressed. The wine was gently pressed and matured for 11 months in 40% new wood.