Fermented with native yeasts in small wooden vats and aged in special air-dried barriques for 11 months, the 2009 Clos de Ste. Anne Pinot Noir gives fragrant aromas of warm cherries and raspberry preserves over violets, lavender, dried leaves and cinnamon stick. Full bodied and richly fruited in the mouth, it has a nicely balanced structure of medium-high acid and a medium level of silky tannins, finishing long and spicy. Delicious now, it should cellar to 2016+.
James and Annie Millton are among the few biodynamic producers in New Zealand and certainly make a great case for the methods with the sheer quality and individuality of their wines. The Chardonnays are up there with the best in New Zealand and can age very well, often requiring a year or two in bottle before they begin to reveal the power and layers beneath their elegance.
No known USA importer.