Seresin
Rachel Pinot Noir – 2013
Region: New Zealand
Seresin
Estate grown grapes from organic and biodynamic vineyards are handpicked and transformed into artisan wines through gentle, traditional winemaking – wine of passion, grace and spirit. Acknowledging Seresin’s ongoing commitment to sound environmental practices as a winegrower, Seresin won the Marlborough District Council’s 2009 Marlborough Environment Award.
Grapes / Soils
| Pinot Noir | Over 20 years on average in 2015 | Mixed alluvial silt, gravel and clay |
The Wine
Vineyard Profile
- The main portion of fruit for this wine is derived from our clay-rich hillside “Raupo Creek” vineyard, in the Omaka Valley, with a balance coming from the alluvial shingles of our Tatou vineyard and the Noa vineyard, which is comprised of Waimakariri soil types, alluvial in origin.
- Each vine is hand-tended throughout the season to create a balanced canopy and optimise fruit quality.
Harvest Notes
- 2013 was an excellent vintage for Marlborough. A calm spring allowed for even flowering and berrty set, and an initially warm summer was tempered by cooler temperatures after veraison. The cool end to the season allowed slower maturation of the fruit, encouraged retention of acidity and development of more complex flavor compounds.
- Fruit was hand-picked, destemmed and cooled. After pre-fermentation steeping, the juice was warmed and fermented with wild yeast, and the caps hand-plunged twice a day during fermentation. The wines was left on skins for 2 weeks of post-ferment maceration, then drained, lightly pressed and transferred to French oak barriques, of which 7% were new.
- The wine went through malolactic fermentation during 15 months maturation, before it was bottled unfiltered and unfined.
Winemaker's Notes
- A blend from all three vineyard sites, Rachel is named after Michael Seresin’s mother.
- The nose exhibits aromas of black cherry, truffle and chocolate.
- The palate is concentrated and full, with a dense core of rich fruit alongside savory spice and herbal notes, all underpinned by silky-fine and mouth coating tannins.
- Long on the finish, with a cleansing acidity, this is a poised, yet powerful wine.
Wine Summary
- Made from Pinot Noir grapes.
- Vine age – from vines over 20 years on average in 2015.
- Grown on soils of Clay and windblown silt.
- Fermented in French Oak Barriques using wild yeast.
- Aged in French oak barriques, of which 14% were new.
- Aged for 15 months.
- Bottled unfiltered and unfined.
Technical Information
- Varieties: Pinot Noir
- Vineyard: Raupo Creek, Tatou & Noa
- Oak: 17% New
- Bottled: November 14, 2014
- Alcohol: 13.5%
- RS: 1.7 g/l
- pH: 3.7
- TA: 6 g/l
Reviews
91+ Points
Pale to medium ruby colored, the 2013 Rachel Pinot Noir has an earthy nose of loam, moss-covered bark and garrigue with a core of raspberry leaves, red currants and wild thyme. The medium-bodied palate offers intense red berry and earth flavors with a solid backbone of grainy tannins and lively acid, finishing with great length.
© Wine Advocate, December, 2016
88 Points
(Marlborough, 13.5%). Here the restrained nose is showing a bit of maturity with its notes of spiced plum and dark berry liqueur. The medium-bodied flavors are not quite as concentrated but they’re both finer and better delineated while culminating in a moderately austere and dusty finish that flirts with dryness. This is by no means unbalanced but it would be fair to say that it’s less harmonious than the best in the range. I would be inclined to be drinking this now as I fear the dryness may become more pronounced with further aging. now+
Allen Meadow's Burghound, October, 2020
General Info
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | South Island |
| Appellation(s) | Marlborough |
| Proprietors | Michael Seresin |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Winemaker | Tamra Kelly-Washington |
| Annual Production | 60,000 9L cases |
| Farming (Sustainable, organic, biodynamic) | Biodynamic, Organic |