Prophet’s Rock Home Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022

The grapes were sourced from the Home Vineyard on the impressive North-facing slopes of Chinaman’s Terrace, located in the Bendigo sub-region of Central Otago. Planted in 1999/2000 and will be certified organic from the 2019 vintage. Starts at325 meters above sea level, rising up to 400 meters. North West exposition. This stunning site has soil featuring clay and chalk mixed with schist and quartz. To understand the soil type here it’s important to know how the Cromwell Basin was formed. The site is a mixture of Clay and Limestone. The terrace was formed/carved by a glacier, 650,000 years ago. Then a second Glacier came 400,000 years ago to form further topography changes. Due to the first Glacier creating the first terrace the schist mother rock was left exposed on the top soil. Schist weathers and decomposes becoming fine particles, eventually Clay. Calcium particles within this Schist were released during this decomposition. Because there is Clay it stopped the calcium being washed away creating a layer of calcium on top of the Clay.

Then this changes to chalk/calcium carbonate = Pedogenic lime. The low rainfall of the Bendigo sub region (dry) also helped to retain this soil. This then gives a sandwich of clay/windblown topsoil, limestone and then more Clay. In conclusion – The combination of Clay, Time and Dry climate = gives the possibility to create limestone in an area with no former sea. Pedogenic lime is formed by slow formation of time as opposed to the sea being forced up from below (Parisbasin/Burgundy). It’s a lot younger than the classic limestone found in France. Iron-oxide is also present in the sub region.

A fantastic pinot with dried strawberries, orange peel, terra-cotta, and dried leaves. It’s full and very layered with creamy and fine tannins that go on for minutes. Plenty of depth and very long with tension and a beautifully creamy, velvety finish. – 97 Points – James Suckling