UNKEL LUTA SHADOW PINOT NOIR 2022

Rob and Kate Burley have since 2019 been organically farming a picturesque 5.5 Hectare vineyard in Nelson, planted with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris & Riesling. As the ‘Unkel’, they always allow the wine to do the talking, leading its own life through fermentation and ageing in the winery providing what they believe is the most honest expression of the fruit that they started with.

Luta wines are a recent addition to their Unkel Wines range & are wines made from a selection of barrels that they believe tell the story of the unique Moutere clays & the organic vineyards in which these vines are farmed. These are aged for longer at every step, from barrel to tank and again in the bottle, prior to release.

‘Luta’ – derived from Lutum, the Latin word for clay – pays reference to the Moutere clays where the grapes are grown.

Winery notes (2022 Vintage)
"114 – 100% Whole−bunch fermented for 4 days 10/5 – Carbonic maceration for 5 days before stomping and leaving for another 5 days as a whole−bunch ferment 777 – 100% Destemmed for 7 days 115 – 100% Whole−bunch & 50% destemmed fermented for 8 days Clone 5 – Destemmed and on skins for 7 days. These Individual parcels were then pressed to old french puncheons and barriques for maturation on fine lees for 10 months. These were then racked and blended in stainless steel and aged for a further 6 months before bottling in January 2023.

This is the more structured of the two Pinots carrying a slightly deeper fruit spectrum with bright plum, violet flower, dried herbs and spice. This follows onto the pallet with round, mouth coating tannin."

17/20 Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson.com, June 2025 (2022 Vintage)
"Overripe bramble and cherry fruit with stone and petrichor aromas. Quite different to the herbal style of their Rising Pinot Noir. Fine, light tannins with a long aniseed and soy finish."

Reviews for the 2021 vintage below…

94/100 David Walker Bell, WineFolio.co.nz, July 2024 (2021 Vintage)
"A Pinot Noir from Nelson, using whole bunch and some carbonic maceration in the making. A translucently light but bright garnet red colour in the glass. A sous-bois, earth, spice and incense to the nose. Scented with cinnamon and star anise then plum, bramble, rhubarb and cherry. Showing a youthful energy and saline acidity to the medium-bodied palate. The tannin has a little rasp to it, supple and with some grip. Savoury elements of truffle, cigar box and black olive come next, deepening the mood, before a spicy and lengthy finish."