Central Otago’s Black Quail Estate vineyard and truffière is victorious after being awarded the Mike Wolter Memorial Trophy and Champion Pinot Noir at the Bragato Wine Awards in Marlborough last week.
Black Quail Estate 2013 Pinot Noir is a true boutique, single vineyard wine. All the Pinot Noir is from this single vineyard on Felton Road, Bannockburn and only 400 cases are made every year. Fruit was grown with support from viticulturist Gary Crabbe, and the wine made by Francis Hutt.
The Bragato Wine Awards are the first awards to review wines from the new vintage and recognise viticultural excellence and the influence grape growers and their vineyards have in creating New Zealand wines of terroir. More than 600 wines were considered in the 2016 competition by a 13 strong judging team including international judges Andrea Frost and Nick Ryan.
Black Quail is an Estate in the traditional old world style. Sitting on 25 hectares of prime grape growing land on Felton Road, Bannockburn the Keillor family purchased the land in 1999. Owners Rod and Mirani Keillor immediately planted ten hectares with Pinot Noir and now have planted the rest with olives, fruit and hazelnut trees. They released their first wine in 200. Their stand of hazelnut trees rewarded with their first harvest of Périgord black truffles in 2015 and again this year.
Rod and Mirani Keillor are delighted about the recognition, saying it justifies all the hard work over the previous 17 years. Mirani said the win was wonderful recognition for the family who worked tirelessly to recognise their vision for Black Quail Estate. What’s more she said the Trophy is further recognition of the quality of Central Otago Pinot Noir.
The couple is grateful to the Black Quail team who produced the 2013 vintage. Viticulturalist Garry Crabbe, winemaker Francis Hutt and everyone who worked on the vineyard and the support they receive from Tim Deaker and Jason Thomson from viticultura (need to say what these people do) and the Central Otago wine community.
Black Quail Estate Pinot Noir is sold in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand with a focus on Otago.
Black Quail Estate 2013 Pinot Noir is available for sale online www.blackquail.co.nz
