“Vintage 2019 was one hell of a ride! It was a year of growth for us in terms of vineyard area with the acquisition of new vineyards in Piccadilly and Norton Summit. We were thrown a few curve balls in 2019 with rainfall less than half of the long-term average, cold conditions early in the season and extremely poor weather during flowering resulting in yields being down around 40%. But on a more positive note…the dry conditions resulted in very low disease pressure, the two heat spells in January were short (and occurred prior to veraison) and we had near perfect ripening conditions through February and March. In terms of the wine quality, we were extremely happy with the wines. The low yields resulted in wine with full flavour development, great colour and beautiful natural acidity. The wines leap out the glass! It has been a few months since the wines went into bottle and they have started to show those individual characteristics we saw, and loved, in each vineyard”
- Gareth Belton, Winegrower
Gentle Folk Scary Gully Pinot Noir 2019
Vineyard: Scary Gully, Forest Range
Planted: 1985
Variety: Pinot Noir
Clones: MV6, D5V12, Pommard
Elevation: 620m
Aspect: SE/SW
Soils: Light loamy clay over sandstone with extensive schist and quartz rubble
Farming: Organic with some Biodynamic practices. Dry grown
Vinification: 100% whole cluster open top fermentation, 11 months in French oak barriques, 25% new
Winefront Review: 'Not so Scary.Wild streak here. Game meat, undergrowth, brined black olives, sour cherries, clove. An exotic mix in perfume translates similarly to the palate, a rollicking ride of savoury tannin, bitter-sweet acidity, sour cherry, sweet earthiness and dried herbs with a wonderfully earthy, spicy finish. A very savoury pinot noir, autumnal strongly.'94 points. Mike Bennie.
Gentle Folk Little Creek Pinot Noir 2019
Vineyard: Little Creek, Norton Summit
Planted: 1987 and 1990
Variety: Pinot Noir
Clones: MV6, D5V12, Wadensville and Martini
Elevation: 505m
Aspect: NNE and SW
Soils: Light loamy clay over sandstone with extensive schist and quartz rubble
Farming: Organic with some Biodynamic principles. Dry grown
Vinification: 100% whole cluster open top fermentation, 11 months in French and Austrian oak barriques and puncheons, 25% new.
Winefront review: 'Has that colour that Bass Phillip gets. Garnet and Haze, would be the swatch at the paint shop. I love that. A little creek is what I heard when Gareth Belton was trying to creep into my bedroom one night…This is excellent pinot noir. Tightly coiled, shaped with Italianate tannins that rip and pucker, sprigs of dried herb in rose hip tea with a splash of cranberry and pomegranate juice. It feels cool and composed, perfumed but not just pretty with scents that feel savoury, elemental and more ‘tasting fruit in vineyard’ than ‘eating fruit off a plate’. Fantastic, lithe, tense expression.' 94 points Mike Bennie.
Gentle Folk Piccadilly Pinot Noir 2019
Vineyard: Whisson Lake & Budenberg Vineyards, Uraidla
Planted: 1985 and 1996
Variety: Pinot Noir
Clones: D5V12 and 115
Elevation: 550m and 523m
Aspect: ENE and E
Soils: Light loamy clay over sandstone with extensive schist and quartz rubble
Farming: Organic
Vinification: 100% whole cluster open top fermentation, 11 months in French oak barriques, 25% new.
Winefront review: 'Succulent pinot noir, just over light weight, savouriness personfied with earthy, undergrowth, truffley, dried herbs notes the main deal around sour cherry and firm raspberry characters. Tannin is superb, al dente, maybe firmer, all black tea and bergamot. I love these pinot noirs. Proper. Fresh but savoury. So good.'
95 Points. Mike Bennie
