2015 The Alan

Adelaide Hills

Pinot Noir

Pale garnet with brick red hues. Dark, brooding aromas of black cherry and raspberry are layered with oregano, tomato leaf, black tea and subtle hints of charcuterie. A tightly structured palate of dark red fruits unfolds into dried herbs, clove, baking spice and cedar, supported by firm acidity and fine-grained tannins driving length and depth.

$109.00
$109.00
Pale garnet with brick red hues. Dark, brooding aromas of black cherry and raspberry are layered with oregano, tomato...

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BACKGROUND

The Alan is a reserve release of hand-selected pinot noir from the Henschke Lenswood Archer’s Vineyard. The vineyard, located high in the central cool-climate Adelaide Hills was first planted in the early 1980’s and became an extension of the Henschke Lenswood property in 2010. In the mid-1980s Stephen and Prue Henschke initiated several trials looking at different clones of pinot noir. Nine clones are now planted across the vineyard: MV6, D5V12, G8V3, G8V7, Pommard (D4V2), and the renowned Bernard Burgundy clones of 114, 115, 777 and 667. The wine is named in memory of Alan Archer, a former owner of the property and an old friend of the Henschke family, whose love of wine and food helped to create The Chesser Cellar’s fame, a dining institution in Adelaide for many years.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir

Harvest Date: 19 February – 13 March

Alcohol: 13%

Vintage Rating: Excellent vintage

Maturation: Matured in 21% new and 79% seasoned French oak barriques for 10 months prior to blending and bottling. Bottle aged in the Henschke cellar for museum release.

Drinking Window: Drink now to 2030+

VINTAGE

A traditionally wet winter, mild spring and excellent fruit set provided a great start to the 2015 vintage after four vintages with below-average yields. Spring was dry and led into a very mild, dry summer with no disease, resulting in fruit with higher natural acidity and incredible flavour and colour concentration. A dry, warm and windy start to January resulted in one of the worst bushfires in the Adelaide Hills in living memory, though well away from our Lenswood Vineyard. By the end of the first week, relief came with 60–75 mm of rain and a record-breaking coolest January in 11 years. With the onset of veraison at the end of January, the rain was perfectly timed for the vineyard and the mild weather that followed from February through to April provided a fairytale vintage.

TASTING NOTES

The Alan is a reserve release of hand-selected pinot noir from the Henschke Lenswood Archer’s Vineyard. The vineyard, located high in the central cool-climate Adelaide Hills was first planted in the early 1980’s and became an extension of the Henschke Lenswood property in 2010. In the mid-1980s Stephen and Prue Henschke initiated several trials looking at different clones of pinot noir. Nine clones are now planted across the vineyard: MV6, D5V12, G8V3, G8V7, Pommard (D4V2), and the renowned Bernard Burgundy clones of 114, 115, 777 and 667. The wine is named in memory of Alan Archer, a former owner of the property and an old friend of the Henschke family, whose love of wine and food helped to create The Chesser Cellar’s fame, a dining institution in Adelaide for many years.

Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir

Harvest Date: 19 February – 13 March

Alcohol: 13%

Vintage Rating: Excellent vintage

Maturation: Matured in 21% new and 79% seasoned French oak barriques for 10 months prior to blending and bottling. Bottle aged in the Henschke cellar for museum release.

Drinking Window: Drink now to 2030+

A traditionally wet winter, mild spring and excellent fruit set provided a great start to the 2015 vintage after four vintages with below-average yields. Spring was dry and led into a very mild, dry summer with no disease, resulting in fruit with higher natural acidity and incredible flavour and colour concentration. A dry, warm and windy start to January resulted in one of the worst bushfires in the Adelaide Hills in living memory, though well away from our Lenswood Vineyard. By the end of the first week, relief came with 60–75 mm of rain and a record-breaking coolest January in 11 years. With the onset of veraison at the end of January, the rain was perfectly timed for the vineyard and the mild weather that followed from February through to April provided a fairytale vintage.