BACKGROUND

We have named our premium Bellbrae Estate wines after our local Surf Breaks. Bird Rock is a right-handed reef break to the West of Jan Juc beach. It was so named due to the free-standing rock between the reef & the shore. Great peak waves that produce a short but excellent ride when its pumping. The surf coast is the ideal place for Pinot Noir, with its cool nights, fertile soil, ample rain and a cool, maritime climate that rarely sees frost. Like Bird Rock, this region is known for producing an excellent barrel… of Pinot Noir.

WINEMAKING

Careful handpicking over our 2Ha of Pinot Noir resulted in us only taking 14 rows for this wine. Having been converted to cane pruning 4 years previously, this area produced the smallest berries with the most intensity –just what we were looking for.

50% whole bunch fermentation followed to further improve tannin weight and structure which was then enhanced by 12 months maturation in new & 1 yr old French barriques.

TASTING NOTES

With lashings of cherry and mulberry characters abounding the 2013 ‘Bird Rock’ Pinot is pure elegance.  Tannin runs deep in this wine and provides a perfect support system to the natural fruits; the result being  that it has huge cellaring potential of 8+ years from vintage.