Cornish Point is a 25 acre vineyard site in Central Otago. It has been divided into 25 blocks, each sized to supply one 3 tonne fermenting tank. There are 24 blocks of Pinot Noir and 1 block of Chardonnay. The vines are close spaced: 1.1m plant spacing on 2.2m row widths, on VSP trellis system. The clones are Clone 5 (UCD5) Clone 6, AM10/5, 114, 115, 667, 777 and DRC Abel. Rootstocks are 3309, 101.14, and RPG. The wines are made by Blair Walter at Cornish Point’s sister vineyard, Felton Road. I know all this because it’s on their website.

A pleasant nose: red cherries, wood spice, herbs, with a touch of earth and smoke. Palate follows true to the nose: red fruits and spice, dark cherries, a certain finesse, sweet fruit but not cloying, firm oak but not overly so, with excellent length. There is also a spine of acid that I hadn’t noticed previously which detracted just a touch. Even so, a wine to swirl and sniff, and contemplate, with silky mouthfeel that makes it slide down very easily, but not quite as good as the one I had last year.

Rated : 89 Points
Tasted : Aug07
Alcohol : 14.0%
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2007 - 2009