Winemaker's Notes:

From the best blocks, clones and barrels come the limited production wines that have made the TarraWarra Estate an icon vineyard. The aroma is a combination of spices with some herbal tones, reflecting the cool vintage. There are also raspberries with a hint of vanilla. The palate has a vibrant fruit front palate, with lovely acidity and deceptive layers and good persistence.

The 2004 vintage was relatively cool, with a very mild summer and few days over 85 F. February had cool nights, helping to retain acid in the ripening fruit. Harvest was delayed due to the cool season; acids remained high and flavor development was late.

The vines retained excellent health throughout this prolonged period, with the grapes eventually being hand picked in superb condition. Fruit was picked late March, with yields averaging 1.3 tonnes per acre The cooler season also brought smaller crops, smaller berries and loose bunches.

The difficulty in this vintage was avoiding greener flavors in the Pinot Noir fruit, which persisted until quite late in the season. Patience was rewarded with excellent fruit both high in natural acid and ripe flavors.

Our Estate Pinot Noir fruit was de-stemmed into open pot fermenters. A portion of the fruit was cold soaked before fermentation. During fermentation. the fruit was hand plunged three times per day, with some pumping over.

At dryness the wines were pressed and settled before transfer into barrel for malolactic fermentation.

Reviews:

“ 94 Points
A complex, powerful wine in flavour, textural and structural terms; dark fruits; forest will develop, although the cork throws in an element of uncertainty. ” — James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion

“ 87 Points
Brick-red. Complex bouquet of dried cherry, plum, cured tobacco and truffle. Deep and chewy, offering sweet red berry and bitter cherry flavors and gentle mineral bite on the back end. Gains power on the finish, which repeats the cherry and tobacco qualities. ” — Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar

“ 86 Points
From a cool vintage, this offers slightly leafy, tomato-like aromas and flavors layered over the cherry fruit and adding tea-like flavors on the finish. ” — Wine Enthusiast