Delta Vineyard
The Delta farm, first established in 1848, was purchased in 2000 by four...
partners, including winemaker Matt Thomson and David Gleave of Liberty Wines. Their specialisation in Pinot Noir sets Delta apart from the crowd in Marlborough. Lying on the West Coast highway, the 30 hectare Delta Vineyard is planted with the best new Dijon clones of Pinot Noir and can be divided into two areas. The flatter part, closer to the road, produces approachable, younger drinking wines bottled under the 'Delta' label, whereas the best fruit from the hillsides that rise to around 175 metres produces the reserve style 'Hatter's Hill'. The low vigour clay soils, combined with the elevation of the vineyard, the warm days, the excellent quality of the light, the cool nights and the constant breeze, make this site ideal for the production of top quality Pinot Noir.
Vineyards
The Delta Vineyard has 30 hectares of Pinot Noir. It is situated on the West Coast Highway in Marlborough in New Zealand's South Island. About 25% of the vineyard is on the 'flats' while 75% is on the hills that rise to about 175 metres. The clay soil, combined with the elevation of the vineyard, as well as the warm days, the excellent quality of the light, cool nights and a constant breeze - makes this site ideal for the production of top quality Pinot Noir.
Vintage Information
A cooler than average flowering meant that 2012 had a very low fruit set. These naturally low yields made for some excellent Pinot Noir. The cool ripening season resulted in a slightly later harvest, which coupled with light crops and small berries produced an aromatic and concentrated 2012 Pinot Noir harvest. The resulting wines have excellent colour and tannin structure with bright lifted fruit.
Vinification
A mixture of machine harvested and hand-picked fruit was destemmed (95%), but not crushed, into 4-8 tonne open-top fermenters. These were used to reduce the amount of alcohol in the resulting wines, improving the balance. After a four day cold-soak to stabilise the colour, fermentation took place at temperatures of up to 34°C. Twenty percent of the wine was left on skins for a further 14 days post-fermentation maceration before pressing. The wine was then racked to French oak barrels (33%), of which one third were new, and stainless steel tanks for malolactic fermentation and ageing on light yeast lees. The wine was then blended and bottled after ten months of ageing.
Tasting Notes
Deep red with a youthful rim, the nose is perfumed and delicate with aromas of ripe cherry, violet and a hint of spiced plums. The palate is silky at first gaining concentration with good structure, juicy but focused fruit character and a grainy, mineral-rich finish..
Vintage Information
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Grape varieties | 100% Pinot Noir |
| Region | Marlborough |
| Winemaker | Matt Thomson |
| Alcohol (ABV) | 13.5% |
| Acidity | 5.5g/l |
| Residual Sugar | 1g/l |
| Wine pH | 3.6 |
Trade customers
Liberty Wines customers can order this wine directly from us.