Wine Advisor
Akitu, Pinot Noir Blanc 2021
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Rebecca Gibb MW
The Pinot Noir Blanc was first created as a blanc de noirs in 2019, inspired by a bottle from the Ahr, Germany. Having been delicately handled and whole-bunch-pressed to minimize color, the 2021 has a very delicate peach hue. This wine is round and weighty with full mid-palate texture, partly due to a small percentage that undergoes malo in barrel, plus a higher percentage of press juice as well as more time on lees. There's plenty of interest aromatically: red cherry and nectarine flavors are followed by pear and florals on the clean, balanced finish. A serious, food-worthy middle ground between white and rosé. Akitu doubled production in 2021 due to high demand.
About the Producer
Akitu is located in New Zealand's Central Otago appellation, and is a well-known family-owned winery in the region. Central Otago is located on the southern tip of New Zealand's South Island, the most southerly wine region in the world, and has the geographical advantage and natural conditions to grow the world's best Pinot Noir. "Akitu" means "peak, highest point" in Maori. Akitu is located on a hillside at an altitude of 380 meters above sea level, and its 12 hectares of vineyards are divided into six plots with approximately 40,000 vines. The vineyards are scattered in the Wanaka Lake area, where the clear blue water serves as a source of irrigation and a natural thermostat, keeping the microclimate around the lake stable and resulting in very small yields of very high quality in the Wanaka sub-appellation. For many years, Akitu Winery has carefully cultivated the Pinot Noir grapes, and the different weather conditions and terroir of each plot each year give the grapes a different concentration of aromas and flavors, which provides more options for blending the wines. In the cultivation of Pinot Noir grapes, the winery has always maintained two beliefs: patience and persistence. With 45 rows of Pinot Noir vines in the vineyard, the winery is dedicated to producing quality Pinot Noir grapes and producing delicious wines that perfectly reflect the local terroir. Andrew Donaldson, the founder of Akitu Winery, is a big Pinot Noir fan. He has made Central Otago his second home and his dream of building his own winery has been realized here. Steve Blackmore, the winery manager, graduated from LincolnUniversity with a degree in viticulture and then worked at a winery where he gained extensive experience. He now oversees every detail of the Akitu winery from the germination of the grapes to the bottling of the wine. The winemaking consultant is Australian winemaking superstar PJ Charteris, who has won every Australian winemaker award during his 12 years at the legendary Brokenwood in the Hunter Valley and is the face of the Australian wine industry internationally.
