The China Terrace Vineyard is located in the Bendigo subregion of Central Otago. Gently sloped on the lower edge of a large terrace (named China Terrace), it unfolds Pinot Noir and Chardonnay over some 6 hectares. Being over 320m, its retains a coolness relative to Bendigo’s natural warmth. This and the complex accumulation of loess , clay and schist in its soil, gives wines of fresh, bright complexity. Picking typicaly occurs early to mid April.

Two clones, 667 and 777 were used in a number of small scale ferments, each with a different proportion of whole cluster. Maceration time varies according to the whole cluster proportion; typically this ranges from 14 days (100% whole cluster) to up to 28 days (0-20% whole cluster). After pressing, the wine spends 11 months in barrel (30% new). The wine is assembled, then bottled without fining, filtration or cold stabilisation. The finished wine has 49% whole cluster.

Deep red coloured. Serene and calm, the wine is suffused in a lovely earthiness. Garlanded with pretty red fruit aromatics, it opens into a sturdy wine, with typical China Terrace tannins punctuating the palate. Complex and brooding, with many years ahead of it.