Technical Analysis
Bouchard Finlayson's Tête de Cuvée label presents a selection of their top Pinot Noir barrels from a particular vintage, showcasing their unique terroir.
Tasting note
Brimming with potential to make a lasting sensory impression. Powerful and opulent, with gorgeous black cherry and blueberry flavours, neatly wrapped with a line of fine powdered tannin. Game, violet and subtle cinnamon are focussed on a dry and velvety smooth finish.
Vintage conditions
Spring 2019 saw ideal weather conditions during flower and fruit set, heightening expectations for the upcoming vintage. However, hopes were soon challenged by the atypical and unstable weather presented early in the New Year. Fortunately, dry conditions set in as soon as harvest commenced, with the crop remaining healthy. Volumes recovered slightly from the light 2019 vintage and all-round, unexpectedly positive fruit-quality was delivered to the cellar.
Vinification details
A Tête de Cuvée wine is not presented at every vintage. The emphasis is placed on attaching the best Pinot Noir ferments to best new wood, with the intention of sculpting a top quality, collectors wine. This bottling is regarded as the most promising wine from the cellar and carries the Bouchard Finlayson flag. The majority of grapes supplied for this cuvee are from the oldest vines on the property, with the average vine age exceeding 22 years. The winemaker selects individual barrels to compile the chosen components, in this instance only six, of which four were new oak.
AWARDS
IWC: Gold & Trophy
Tim Atkin MW: 95 pts
Platter: 94 pts
James Suckling: 94 pts
Technical Analysis
Bouchard Finlayson's Tête de Cuvée label presents a selection of their top Pinot Noir barrels from a particular vintage, showcasing their unique terroir.
Tasting note
Brilliantly pure. Fresh cranberry and juicy plum aromas weave through savoury exotic spices. Powered by sleek and well-defined tannins, the wine glides elegantly across the length of the palate. A finely textured core of earthen salinity leads to a lasting finish.
Vintage conditions
Vintage 2019 will long be remembered for the raging wild fire that swept across the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on 11th January – less than three weeks before the first grapes were picked. We were fortunate that we experienced little to no damage and brought in a healthy, yet slightly lighter crop. The reduced yield was the result of milder than normal winter temperatures. Weather conditions remained cool and relatively dry throughout February and March.
Vinification details
Tête de Cuvée is not made in every vintage. The emphasis is placed on attaching the best Pinot Noir ferments to best new wood with the intention of sculpting a top quality, collector’s wine. This bottling is regarded as the most promising wine from the cellar and carries the Bouchard Finlayson flag. The majority of grapes supplied for this cuvée is from the oldest vines on the property, with the average vine age exceeding 22 years. The winemaker selects individual barrels to compile the chosen components – in this instance only six, of which half were new oak.
AWARDS
Platter: 5*
DWWA: Gold
Tim Atkin MW: 96 pts
Tasting video
With Peter Finlayson.
Technical Analysis
Bouchard Finlayson's Tête de Cuvée label presents a selection of their top Pinot Noir barrels from a particular vintage, showcasing their unique terroir.
Tasting note
Silky layers of ripe blueberry and vivid plum show touches of spice and espresso. Restrained initially, but gains depth over the length of the palate and lingers effortlessly on a refined finish. Polished tannins integrate well, but the wine demands patience to reveal its full potential.
Vintage conditions
Similar to the 2016 vintage, a voluminous crop set following ideal flowering conditions. However, during veraison, strict discipline was required in removing late-developing bunches – leaving a balanced and prospectively superb crop. Apart from the rejuvenating 2 inches of rain that fell a week prior to the first picking date, cool and dry conditions prevailed throughout harvest, allowing for a healthy and leisurely ripening.
Vinification details
Tête de Cuvée is not made in every vintage. The emphasis is placed on attaching the best Pinot Noir ferments to best new wood with the intention of sculpting a top quality, collector’s wine. These particular grapes stem from the oldest vines on the property where the vineyard has been intentionally planted to a high density model. The winemaker selects individual barrels to compile the chosen components – in 2017 only four, of which half were new oak.
AWARDS
Tim Atkin MW: 94 pts
Platter: 4.5*
Technical Analysis
Bouchard Finlayson's Tête de Cuvée label presents a selection of their top Pinot Noir barrels from a particular vintage, showcasing their unique terroir.
Tasting note
This is very much a fruits of the forest wine where the colour is deep and the body is firm and bold. It is complex and demands ageing to develop its core of complexity. Raspberry, quince and blackberry flavours add to the nutty tones offered by the new wood. The finish is tannin rich but harmonious at the same time.
Vintage conditions
This was a different summer with cooler than normal conditions which resulted in a delayed harvest. Rain was not unusual and nervous times were experienced in the build up to harvest. Fortunately the balance was perfect, these modest temperatures proved to be exactly what Pinot Noir demands and consequent results point to arguably one of the best Pinot Noir seasons ever.
Vinification details
Tête de Cuvée wine is not made in every vintage. The emphasis is placed on attaching the best Pinot Noir ferments to best new wood with the intention of sculpting a top quality, collector’s wine. These particular grapes stem from the oldest vines on the property where the vineyard has been intentionally planted to a high density model. Barrel maturation enjoys a full sixteen months where the winemaker eventually chooses from individual barrels to compile the chosen components.
AWARDS
IWSC 2016: Gold
IWC 2017: Silver
Tim Atkin MW: 93 pts
JamesSuckling.com: 94 pts
Drinks Business Pinot Noir Masters 2017: Gold
Technical Analysis
Bouchard Finlayson's Tête de Cuvée label presents a selection of their top Pinot Noir barrels from a particular vintage, showcasing their unique terroir.
Tasting note
The palate offers fine rich fruit with hints of raspberry, plum and oaky blackberry tones. Rich and long on the back palate. Great structure and long harmonious layers of velvety tannins, promising rewarding years of complex development.
Vintage conditions
Vintage 2012 was simply perfect. There were no curve balls to spoil the fruit and the weather was ideal. It was one of those extraordinary harvests where the crop was substantial while the quality was correspondingly, enviously good in its early reflections. The weather remained perfectly dry throughout the six weeks of harvest.
Vinification details
Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks. The wine then transferred to barrels for secondary malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels, of which 87% were new. Twelve barrels were chosen for this cuvée, which was matured for a total of 10 months.
AWARDS
IWC 2015: Silver
IWSC 2015: Silver Outstanding
Tim Atkin MW: 91 pts
