# The Mountaineer Pinot Noir (2024)

- **Producer:** Mount Michael Wines Ltd
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Pinot Noir
- **Region:** Central Otago, New Zealand
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €19
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** strawberry, raspberry, cherry, plum, blossom, toast, cloves, cedar, cinnamon, nutmeg, almond

## About this wine

Mount Michael Wines created The Mountaineer range as a tribute to the adventurous spirit of pioneers tackling New Zealand's Southern Alps. Sourced from estate vineyards in Central Otago's Alexandra Basin sub-region along the Clutha River, the vines thrive on natural riverbed terraces of Molyneux sandy loam over deep gravels. The dramatic continental climate with hot summer days and severe cold nights enables slow ripening, balancing vibrant fresh structure with regional character.

## Interesting facts

- Dedicated to the pioneering mountain climbers tackling the Southern Alps of New Zealand.
- Vineyards sit on two natural riverbed terraces along the Clutha River with Molyneux soils.
- Sourced from Central Otago Alexandra sub-region, famous for extreme diurnal shifts.

## Food pairing

Vibrant acidity and fine, soft tannins slice cleanly through rich fats in duck and pork belly while harmonizing gracefully with earthy wild mushrooms and salmon.

## Wine making process

Harvested from dual riverbed terraces along Earnscleugh Road, fruit undergoes gentle, temperature-controlled fermentation to preserve pure fruit aromatics and varietal identity. Following fermentation, the wine is aged in selected French oak barrels to integrate subtle structure before bottling sealed with a Stelvin screw cap.