This is my sixth release of Forager Pinot Noir. 2017 was a mixed season… fine to begin with and wet towards the end of the season. Crop levels were naturally low around 4 T/Ha. Hand-picked and hand-sorted, the grapes are then returned to sit amongst the vines where they once grew. Giving indigenous yeasts from the vineyard the opportunity to create a true expression of the actual vineyard site. Temperature fluctuations in the vineyard environment add a layer of complexity to the fermentation process, with a prolonged pre-fermentation maceration and cooler soaking temperatures than I would expect inside a winery. This is the first time I have taken fruit from the Isolated Hill Vineyard in North Canterbury.