2020 Devotus Reserve Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 750ml

Overview

Devotus Reserve Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020 is a limited-production expression from the estate's oldest vines on the Martinborough Terrace. Sourced from 34-year-old Pommard and 29-year-old Dijon vines, the wine combines low yields, 40% whole bunch fermentation and wild vineyard yeasts with restrained French oak. Only 1,987 bottles were produced, with the wine built specifically for extended cellaring.

Vintage

The 2019/2020 growing season in Martinborough was ideal, with warm, dry and calm conditions during flowering and fruit set followed by a long, hot and dry summer. Extensive green harvesting was undertaken in December and January to restrict yields, with up to 50% of the fruit removed from younger vines. Harvest was completed before more than 100mm of rain arrived at the end of March. The Reserve vines yielded just 1.8 tonnes per acre.

Vineyard & Viticulture

The Reserve was grown from Devotus' oldest vines, comprising 34-year-old Pommard clone vines and 29-year-old Dijon clone vines. The vines were non-irrigated and farmed using organic and sustainable methods. Undervine weeds were managed through mechanical cultivation, while barley, crimson clover and blue lupin were grown within the vineyard and returned to the soil for organic vine nutrition.

Winemaking

The fruit was hand harvested on 14 March 2020 and carefully sorted, with 40% whole bunches included in fermentation. A four-day cold maceration at 10°C preceded fermentation with wild vineyard yeasts, reaching a peak temperature of 28°C. Total skin contact was 16 days. The wine was matured for 11 months in French oak barrels, including 20% new oak, and bottled without fining or filtration.

Producer Tasting Notes

Devotus: “Dusty notes of leather and spice on the nose. Delicate subtle notes of oak, complexed by stem and savoury characters of freshly cut hay.”

The producer describes the wine as a low-intervention expression of the 2020 vintage, the Martinborough Terrace and the individual vineyard.

Producer

Devotus is a family-owned and operated Pinot Noir specialist on the Martinborough Terrace in New Zealand. Its three-hectare single vineyard is devoted exclusively to Pinot Noir, with low cropping, organic soil fertility and traditional, sustainable farming methods central to its vineyard-focused approach.

Specifications

• Vintage: 2020
• Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
• Region: Martinborough, New Zealand
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Total Acidity: 5.2 g/L
• pH: 3.62
• Residual Sugar: <1 g/L
• Vine Age: 29–34 years
• Clones: Pommard and Dijon
• Yield: 1.8 tonnes per acre
• Harvest: Hand harvested 14 March 2020
• Whole Bunch: 40%
• Fermentation: Wild vineyard yeasts
• Skin Contact: 16 days
• Maturation: 11 months in French oak barrels
• Oak: 20% new French oak
• Production: 1,987 bottles
• Fining: None
• Filtration: None
• Closure: 49mm Portuguese Flor-grade natural cork
• Cellaring Potential: At least 15 years