Moko Hills Pinot Noir 2022

Vintage

The 2022 vintage can be described as a viticulturist dream - a near perfect season with little frost, minimal wind, and plenty of soil moisture to begin. This was followed by a long protracted dry spell, with plenty of warmth - a warmer than average season.

The vines set with small berries on compact bunches bringing great wine concentration and structure.

The weather began to cool post-veraison, and the season finished off with a cool steady ripening period.

Wine Making

The fruit contained a mix of four Pinot Noir clones – 777, 115, Abel & UCD5. Fruit was split into three fermenters – one containing 100% whole bunch, 70% whole bunch, and the other 100% de-stemmed. Fermented with natural yeast. Gentle winemaking techniques were used to avoid excessive extraction. 23 days on skin, pressed to 100% old French oak barrels. 12 months in barrel, and allowed to undergo malolactic fermentation naturally in spring, before being racked and allowed to naturally settle and integrate in tank. A selection of the best barrels from each ferment which were deemed to represent Moko Hills. 

Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Hand Harvested: 24th March 2022

Bottled: 14th April 2023

pH: 3.77

TA: 5.51g/L

Alcohol: 13.5% v/v

The Pinot Noir label -Kawarau Gecko

Each wine shows a unique art piece, representing a group of species that embody the encapsulated characteristics of the wine. A homage to these species and a promise of protection.  The Pinot Noir label represents the Kawarau Gecko (Woodworthia 'Cromwell'). It represents the true soul of Moko Hills – the tie between the earth below and what we see above. The Mokomoko | Kawarau Gecko can often be seen basking on the warm schist outcrops during the peak of summer.

The Kawarau Gecko is accompanied by Korokia (Corokia cotoneaster), a divaricating shrub found throughout the schist outcrops along the slopes of Moko Hills. Korokia has spring blooms of small fragrant yellow flowers followed by yellow-orange berries in late summer. Both are depicted on the Pinot Noir label, signifying the transition and importance of each season. Korokia fruit is a valuable food source for Mokomoko | Lizards, and its zig-zag structure acts as a safe refuge.

Artwork created by the talented Rachel Walker | Walkerillo