
Tasting Notes
With the warming climate, certain parcels of Pinot Noir at the Doeven site can be earmarked for still wine―as a point of interest, the fruit for Lethbridge’s premium Nadeson Collis sparkling programme is also sourced from this site. The clone is of Swiss origin (Mariafield), with an open bunch structure so it can ripen well in cooler climates. Ray says it’s structurally softer than MV6 and tends to be more high-toned and perfumed. The fruit is picked by hand and ferments in open-top vessels with a small portion of bunches. After a long, cool ferment (20 days) with only gentle cap work, the wine is pressed to barrel (20% new) for 11 months’ maturation.
Ray captures the essence of this wine perfectly: “The Geelong Pinots are all about slapping the base, whereas this Henty wine is more like the snap of the snare drum.” It’s full of perfume, summer berries, brown spice and earth notes, with fleshy weight and a savoury finish—cool-climate Pinot Noir in fine form. - Distributor Note
Have you ever sat around enjoying a drink with your friends and imagined ‘What if we could…..??’.
This is how our story began:
Lethbridge Wines grew from a friendship between Ray Nadeson, Maree Collis and Adrian Thomas. Back in the mid 1990’s we were busy establishing careers in science and medicine and shared a love of great wine which ultimately became quite an obsession. The afternoons sipping Burgundies were replaced by weekends searching for the perfect vineyard site and then by afternoons digging holes and planting vines. For two of us (Maree and Ray) the passion for wine drove us to a tree change, and in 2003 after 7 years of balancing careers in science and running a vineyard and winery, we made Lethbridge Wines our reison d'etre.
Our aim is to produce natural, savory wines that focus on balance and texture with a real sense of place or terroir.
Maree Collis and Ray Nadeson are not your average winemakers of a boutique winery. Both were initially trained as research scientists and hold PhD degrees in chemistry and medicine, respectively. While combining their scientific careers with winemaking, Maree and Ray completed the winemaking degree at Charles Sturt University. Ray states, "winemaking is not really that different to science, both are creative and both involve 99% perspiration, 1% inspiration".
Not surprisingly, the site at Lethbridge was selected based on scientific principles such as soil type, degree days and other climatic indicators, yet when the three partners first explored the property they discovered an ancient old wooden fermentation vat in one of the old sheds. Discussion with the previous owner (Ivor Perdrisat) revealed that his family, Swiss in origin, had planted a vineyard on the exact site back in the 1870's before the discovery of phylloxera in the region. The old wine vat has been reincarnated as a beautiful timber tasting bench in the cellar door. This story is compelling in the connection between traditional wisdom and modern science.
Product Type | Wine Red Pinot Noir |
Volume | 750ml |
Country | Australia |
Region | Victoria |
Sub Region | Henty |
Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |