Gentle Folk Blossoms Pinot Noir 2018

Blossoms 2018 marks Gentle Folk's first vintage from a Norton Summit vineyard in the Adelaide Hills. The site sits at approximately 500 metres elevation on quartz over sandstone soils and has been farmed organically since planting. The vines, a mixture of Pinot Noir clones established around 25 years before this vintage, were taken over by Gareth and Rainbo Belton beginning with the 2018 harvest.

In the cellar, the fruit was fermented as whole bunches and handled lightly through a short maceration. No additions were made during winemaking beyond a minimal dose of sulfur at bottling, consistent with Gentle Folk's approach across the range. The result is a wine built for immediate pleasure rather than long cellaring.

At 12% ABV, Blossoms sits on the lighter end of the Gentle Folk Pinot Noir lineup. The whole-cluster approach lends a characteristic spice and lift, while the brief maceration keeps the tannin structure silky and the fruit expression fresh and direct. Think red cherry, wild strawberry, a floral top note, and a faint stemmy snap on the finish.

Norton Summit is a sub-locality within the Adelaide Hills wine region, roughly 12 kilometres east of Adelaide. The cool nights at this elevation slow ripening and preserve natural acidity, which is the defining feature of this wine's structure.