Tapanappa Foggy Hill Vineyard Definitus Pinot Noir 2019

Tapanappa is the 21st century chapter of an adventure that pioneered the modern era of the Adelaide Hills wine region. Tapanappa is the name that Brian Croser has given to his ongoing family-owned, fine-wine enterprise based in the Piccadilly Valley where it began more than 40 years ago as Petaluma.

The hand harvested Pinot Noir fruit from the Definitus block of the Foggy Hill Vineyard was delivered to the Tapanappa Winery in the Piccadilly Valley. There 15% of chilled whole bunches was placed in the bottom of each 0.8 tonne fermentation tub. The tubs were topped with chilled destemmed and crushed must and allowed a two-day cold soak beginning at 2°C, then inoculated with our own grown yeast strain and allowed to ferment to a maximum temperature of 33°C with daily hand plunging of the cap. The whole bunches at the bottom of the tubs were progressively crushed to release their sugar. At the end of fermentation after 16 days, the Definitus tubs were sealed to allow 5 days of maceration on skins then pressed to barriques (one third new) with an inoculation of a malolactic bacterial strain. After malo-lactic fermentation on full lees, Definitus was racked and returned to barrique for maturation. After 10 months in barrique Definitus was clear racked in December of 2019 and blended ready for bottling on the 14th of February 2020.

2019 Definitus Foggy Hill Pinot Noir is an “intense expression of the unique Definitus Foggy Hill vineyard site”. The wine is translucent with a deep carmine hue. The aroma is of ripe plums and blue berry fruits with the faint spice of stalks. The oak provides a complexing but muted Chinese 5 spice bouquet and all of this is reflected in the flavour of the wine. At a modest alcohol of 13.0%, the flavours are expressed without the interference of alcohol. The flavours are rich, ripe and lively and the tannins firm but rounded. 2019 Tapanappa Definitus Pinot Noir is the reflection of the perfectly ripe fruit from which it was made and is a “typical expression of the unique Foggy Hill terroir.

Bramble, briar and black tea aromatics set the scene for a very complex pinot that needs encouragement to release its perfume. Len Evans might well have used his expression of ‘an old ladies handbag’ with this silky pinot, joining the ’17 as the best of the Foggy Hill pinots to date.. - James Halliday, 97 Points

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal -  Pinot Noir
Country - Australia
Region - Piccadilly Valley, South Australia
Vintage - 2019
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13%