Wine William Downie, “Cathedral” Pinot Noir, 2020

“Cathedral” Pinot Noir is a bright and slightly “wild” dry red wine made from Pinot Noir grapes harvested from the vineyards of Upper Goulburn (60%) and the Mornington Peninsula (40%). 2020 was a very cool and humid year with very low yields in all of Victoria’s southern regions. The result is wines with excellent aroma, balance and sophistication. The vinification process, as always, proceeded with the minimum intervention of the winemaker. The grapes harvested at the time of optimal maturity were left in fermentation tanks for natural fermentation without temperature control. After three weeks of fermentation in contact with the skin, the juice was separated from the pulp by pressing and poured into steel containers for malolactic fermentation and maturation on a fine lees. Wine potential is 3-5 years.