‘La Cote’ is home to a collection of modern Pinot Noir clones and like all the Millton vineyards are dry-farmed and have been cultivated biodynamically since 1989.

La Cote is a parcel in the Clos de Ste Anne vineyard on a steep northeast facing slope, which has a collection of modern Pinot Noir clones. As tractors cannot traverse this site, all work is done by hand. Soils are dense clay over sandstone giving smallish bunches with moderate vigor.

We look to the old world for inspiration with Pinot Noir. We don’t want a big fruit bomb or a dark wine with blocky oak tannin. A delicate wine with a subtlety that can accompany truly great food. A selection of specific slopes and planting comprise our decision on where to source the fruit for this wine. The soils are dense clay over sandstone, including the surrounding manuka scrubs nearby, giving fruit of smallish bunches and moderate vigor. The grapes are harvested by hand, chilled, sorted, and destemmed uncrushed into small wooden cuves for prolonged fermentation using natural yeasts. Pressing takes place after one lunar phase – 28 days where the wine rests for a time until being put into a barrel.

A bright fruited, expressive nose, with notes of dark cherry, juniper berry and an intriguing hint of fennel and manuka flower. There is a savory taste with firm tannins and ripe fruit finishing with a lively mineral edge to balance.