# Burn Cottage Moonlight Race Pinot Noir (2022)

- **Producer:** Sauvage Family Vineyard
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Pinot Noir
- **Region:** Central Otago, New Zealand
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** black plum, red cherry, black cherry, raspberry, red plum, vanilla, cedar, cloves, mushroom, forest floor, earth, leather

## About this wine

The Burn Cottage Moonlight Race Pinot Noir 2022 is a single-varietal Pinot Noir from Central Otago, New Zealand, produced by Sauvage Family Vineyard. The wine is a blend sourced from three estate vineyards: Burn Cottage Vineyard (Lowburn), Sauvage Vineyard (Bannockburn), and Sappa Vineyard (Bannockburn), with vine ages ranging from 5 to 23 years. The Sauvage Family Vineyard is committed to biodynamic farming practices. The name 'Moonlight Race' is inspired by a water channel that passes through the Burn Cottage property, a remnant of early European settlement in the region.

## Interesting facts

- The name 'Moonlight Race' refers to a historic water channel on the Burn Cottage property.
- The wine is a blend from three estate vineyards: Burn Cottage, Sauvage, and Sappa.
- Vine ages range from 5 to 23 years, adding complexity to the blend.
- Farming practices are biodynamic, emphasizing natural vineyard health.

## Food pairing

The wine's medium-plus body and fine tannins are well-suited to complement the protein and fat in dishes like duck and lamb. Its bright fruit notes and subtle earthy undertones can echo or contrast with ingredients like mushrooms, herbs, and fruit-based sauces, creating balanced and harmonious pairings.

## Wine making process

The Burn Cottage Moonlight Race Pinot Noir 2022 was fermented using indigenous yeast for approximately 18 days, with 5% whole bunch inclusion. Following fermentation, the wine was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, with 20% new oak. The grapes were harvested between March 18th and April 9th, with an average Brix of 23.3, benefiting from a stable and slow ripening period during the 2022 vintage. The vineyard practices are biodynamic.