Aotea Nelson Brut Méthode Traditionnelle N.V

GOLD - The New Zealand International Wine Show 2024
4 Stars - Cuisine Magazine 2024

Variety: 52% Pinot Noir / 48% Chardonnay
Vineyard: Seifried Challies (Pinot Noir) and Rabbit Island (Chardonnay) vineyards
Sugar at Harvest: 19.3°Brix
Date of Harvest: Early March 2016
Disgorgement Date: July 2024
T.A of Wine: 5.0g/L
pH: 3.23
Residual Sugar: <1g/L (Brut)
Alc.: 12.5% vol
Suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans: Yes

Challies and Rabbit Island vineyards are adjacent to each other on Redwood Road. Soils are similar and predominantly silty/sandy in nature with gravelly sub surface soils. The Challies block has bands of dry loam soil running through the northern part of the block. Roots go down deep through the gravelly soil to reach the water table below.

Our Aotea Méthode Traditionnelle is a very special wine. Two parcels of fruit were picked at ideal ripeness for this classical Méthode Traditionnelle Cuvée. The Pinot Noir is from our Challies vineyard, while the Chardonnay comes from our Rabbit Island vineyard. The blend is 52/48 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The grapes were harvested during the cool early hours of the day and quickly brought to the winery for processing. The free-run juice from the press was cold settled overnight before being racked, warmed and inoculated. A smooth ferment progressed to dryness, followed by malolactic fermentation. The young wine was then prepared for bottle fermentation and aged on lees for an extended period. In July 2024 the wine was finished and was released in November 2024.