Estate Pinot Meunier Rose 2024

What a season! Following the twin challenges of 2022 and 2023 there was a lot of nervous anticipation across the region riding on the outcome of vintage 2024!

For the team at Luna it was certainly eventful, particularly on our Eclipse Vineyard.

Bud Burst was on the early side once again. Always a concern as it puts new shoot growth in the path of the early season frost events. Eclipse vineyard is particularly susceptible to frost, unfortunately we had to fight an unusually large number of them through September and well into late October. It felt somewhat inevitable that we would get a damage level event with so much pressure! And, so it proved, with a late October frost which was too cold to defend against, causing widespread crop loss across the lower lying portions of the vineyard closest to the edge of the terrace. We are most fortunate that our largest vineyard, Blue Rock, sits above the frost line to the South of the village and so was spared any damage. Still, not an ideal start!

The three weeks following the frost all seemed relatively settled weather wise and the vines began flowering, as expected, around mid- late November. For a successful flowering, mild, ideally still weather is desirable. As if on cue a deep Southerly, low pressure system rolled in and instead we got a week of cold, wet, wintery conditions just as the flowering was gathering momentum. The entire region was affected, and the chance of a decent sized crop was gone once again! This marked the third season in a row for some growers of minimal fruit returns. On the flip side, a greatly reduced crop can have the potential to develop into a high quality season with less and smaller bunches per vine creating very intensely flavoured fruit!

The much hyped El Nino summer rolled in as forecast, delivering a classic, hot, dry Wairarapa summer! Was nice to see the grass turn brown again following two years of wet, muggy summers. Those tiny bunches ripened perfectly under these conditions and some mighty wines will emerge in time.

Of note; A harvester working a hay paddock next to our Eclipse vineyard hit an overhead powerline causing a huge grass fire which spread into our vineyard. It looked very touch and go for a while, but thanks to the local volunteer fire brigade, as well as our amazing neighbours, the fire was bought under control before it could wipe out too much of the vineyard. In the end damage and crop loss were minimal. It certainly had me looking at the heavens though, wondering what could possibly come next! I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to our friends and neighbours as well as the local fire brigade for the quick action. Nice to see the community rally!

Crafted from Pinot Meunier grown on our Blue Rock Vineyard. Harvested right outside our winery at full maturity on the 12th of February. Fruit was gently pressed over several hours to ensure only the lightest of colour and tannins were extracted. The juice was chilled and settled over several days prior to fermentation and maturation in a mixture of seasoned barrels and stainless - steel tank. Bottled October 2024 in time for the summer!

Prawn linguine

pH: 3.26          

TA 4.7 g/L       

RS 4.0 g/L              

Alc 13.3 %