MAUDE MOHAWK HILL PINOT NOIR 2020

The Mohawk Hill vineyard is located in the foothills of the Pisa range. So named as a view of pine trees on a nearby hill ridge looks like a Mohawk. A little more wild herb character here, this is quite rich and savoury.

Winery notes (2020 Vintage)
"The year no-one will ever forget, 2020. Our 2020 growing season followed a very mild winter, bud burst coincided perfectly with very cool Spring conditions, thankfully we avoided any damage from 3 significant frosts. Spring conditions remained cool with intermittent periods of rain. Flowering as a result was interrupted and drawn out which affected our fruit set, we knew we were in for a light cropping year. With the beginning of the calendar year, the weather settled, warmed up and despite our initial predictions that we would need to do a lot of green thinning to even up the crop, we found the tiny berry size and bunch weights ripened easily in the warmer conditions. A year where the small berries, light bunches and cool ripening conditions has meant flavours are ripe and concentrated, with good vibrancy and acidity.

The name given to our Lowburn Vineyard in Cromwell, as when you stand amidst the wines and look out across Lake Dunstan, the hill you look directly upon was once aptly named Mohawk Hill by the workers who came to Central Otago to build the Clyde Dam. Planted in 2008 / 220m elevation. Clones 115, 667 / 31% whole cluster / 31 days maceration—without a doubt the largest and most luscious of the 4 single vineyard Pinot Noir, ripe cherry and plum aromas—rich, round and cuddly, a definite crowd favourite."

Reviews for the 2019 vintage below…

5 Stars & 95/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, June 2021 (2019 Vintage)
"From Maude’s Lowburn vineyard using 36% whole cluster. Voluptuous, mouth-filling pinot noir with ripe plum, dark cherry and a seasoning of spice, thyme and anise. Impressive power and purity with a lingering finish."

Rated Very Good to Excellent, Mark Henderson ODT, June 2021 (2019 Vintage)
"Fresh perfume, rhubarb, strawberry, oak char, mixed berries with aeration. The fruit intensity is a surprise, a basket of summer berries, oak spices and a touch of leaf/wild herb. Creaminess in the mouth, good structure in support flowing to a medium length close. With air the tannins become more puckering and it shows its youth more. Potential for the future."

4 ½ Stars Michael Cooper (2019 Vintage)
"The youthful 2019 vintage is a single-vineyard red, grown at Lowburn, in the Cromwell Basin, and matured in French oak casks (30 per cent new). Full, bright ruby, it is mouthfilling, generous, sweet-fruited and supple, with concentrated, vibrant fruit flavours, finely integrated oak, good tannin backbone, and a strong sense of youthful drive. A very ageworthy red, it should be at its best 2023+."