2020 Red Admiral Pinot Noir
Biogro Sam Kim - 97 points James Suckling 96 Points

Members only
1 1

The Red Admiral is a selection of our vineyard and clones chosen for their age-worthy and fine tannin qualities with a wine made to age beautifully. 

Ripe-red fruits, dark plumbs and herbaceous characters greet you with a floral and seductive nose. Silky tannins with a concentrated palate give a firmly structured and multi-layered mouth feel and refined texture. With a lasting finish, this wine will linger on your tastebuds long into the evening.

Distinctly different from the Needle's Eye delicious juicy and giving nature, this wine expects it's finesse to be uncovered sip by sip.

A wine that is ready to be served today and those that choose to hold may be treated further as it develops under natural cork.

Available in limited numbers of magnums.

  • Bottles produced 3360
  • Alc / Vol 14.1
  • Volume 750ml

This wine is for wine club members only. Join the club to buy it - it's free to join.

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  • Sam Kim

    "It's seductively expressed on the nose, showing dark plum, dried herb, cured meat, clove, and roasted nut aromas. The concentrated palate delivers a multi-layered mouthfeel and refined texture, superbly structured by finely infused tannins, making it seamless and persistent with a firmly structured finish. At its best now to 2036.""

    Sam Kim – 97 points
  • James Suckling

    "A floral red with ripe-strawberry and orange-peel character. Medium to full body, creamy and silky tannins and a refined, racy finish. Very long and focused.""

    James Suckling – 96 points
  • Michael Cooper

    "A masterful example of Marlborough pinot noir, this deeply coloured, 6-year-old red is currently delicious but still unfolding. Matured for more than a year in old french oak barrels, it is weighty and savoury, with rich, well-ripened flavours of plums, cherries and spices. Concentrated, complex, very harmonious and lingering, it's full of personality.""

    Michael Cooper – 5 stars

    • Winemaking

    Where the Needle’s Eye is a representation of all pinot clones and soil profiles on the vineyard taken from the all 5 pinot blocks, the Red Admiral is a selection of clones and rows within blocks chosen for their unique qualities in making a focused, age-worthy wine.

    2020 was the first certified organic (Biogro 5732) vintage, with the vineyard under biodynamic practices since 2017.

    Under natural cork, the wine will continue to age well and is ready to serve or cellar.

    Soil

    Elevated blocks of clay loam, and loess soil on lower slopes. Predominantly north facing.

    Viticulture

    Organic certified, farmed using biodynamic practice. Clones include mainly AM10-05, 943 and 777 clones.

    Harvest

    Hand-picked from 18th March - 9th April. An average of 5.4 tons per hectare yield.

    Vinification

    100% wild fermentation. 11% whole bunch. 14-25 days on skins. No additives other than sulphites. Lightly filtered.

    Maturation

    7 months in tank before into old french oak barrels for another 14 months. No new oak.

  • Jeremy Hyland

    Jeremy Hyland

    Vigneron
  • Hätsch Kalberer

    Hätsch Kalberer

    Winemaker
    • View the 2020 vintage notes