Rabbit Island Nelson Pinot Noir 2024

Vineyard: Seifried Rabbit Island and Brightwater vineyards
Sugar at Harvest: 23.2°Brix
Date of Harvest: March - April 2024
pH of Wine: 3.59
T.A of Wine: 5.5g/L
Suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans: Yes

Our Rabbit Island vineyard is situated on a wide river flat. The soil is made up of gravelly sandy loam, which marks the sites of Maori kumara beds (sweet potato) prior to European settlement in the early 1800s. The Maori transferred and spread fine gravel and sand over the land to provide suitable soils for their kumara plantings. Scrub was burned to give ash and charcoal which increased soil fertility and gave characteristic topsoil. This fertility is now considerably reduced due to modern farming. The soils are however, very sandy and free draining, and the water table is relatively high ensuring adequate underground water.

Our Brightwater vineyard is situated 15 km from the coast and is sheltered from the south by the Richmond ranges. The ‘soil’ is a combination of rocks and boulders which is very hard on farm equipment but vital for holding the warmth of Nelson’s sun.

2024 was simply an outstanding vintage in Nelson - in fact Hermann Seifried has commented that it is perhaps the very best vintage of his 49 seasons in the top of the south! That from a character not known for his exaggeration or embellishments. A dry settled growing season meant fruit was harvested in squeaky clean condition, with perfect ripeness and flavours.

The grapes were harvested before a brief cold maceration period, and inoculated for fermentation. The cap was plunged daily during fermentation and a further brief period of skin contact followed fermentation before the wine was drained to oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and ageing.