Producer
Wim Julicher is a Dutchman who came to New Zealand in 1972, and loved it so much he never moved back home. In 1996 he bought a plot of land in Martinborough with the aim of producing olive oil – an aim quickly thwarted by fatal frosts. However, the land happened to be on Te Muna Road, one of the very best locations in Martinborough, and so Wim replaced the trees with vines. Since the first vintage, 2002, Julicher Estate has amassed a spectacular string of awards, thanks in large part to talented Finnish winemaker Outi Jakovirta, while remaining true to Wim’s boutique vision, producing just 5,000 cases per year.
Vineyard
The Te Muna terraces lie south-east of the village of Martinborough, and consist of free-draining, mineral-rich alluvial gravel. This wine is a blend of several clones of Pinot Noir planted across the property, and comes only from the best blocks. The grapes were harvested by hand in the third week of April.
Winery
The grapes were destemmed straight into open-top fermenters, and had 4-5 days’ cool maceration before fermentation began. The cap was plunged three times per day at the peak of fermentation, after which the wine was pressed off to French oak barrels, with twenty-five percent new wood. Malolactic took place in the spring, and the wine was bottled after ten months in barrel.
Taste
This classic Martinborough Pinot Noir shows outstanding purity and elegance, with fresh red cherry and raspberry aromas, complex savoury and floral notes, and a hauntingly beautiful, ethereal palate of superb poise and length.
Awards
Silver Medal, Sommelier Wine Awards 2015