Nelson Blanc de Noir 2010

Richmond Plains produced New Zealand’s first Blanc de Noir from both certified organic and from biodynamic grapes.

Blanc de Noir is an exciting wine.  Made 100% from Pinot Noir grapes in a white wine style.  Its faint pink diamond colour hinting at its origins.  Nicely chilled this wine is perfect as an aperitif delicious or with lighter meats, Asian meals and pasta dishes.

Richmond Plains is certified organic by BioGro New Zealand and biodynamic by Demeter.

Nose:  Aromatic with citrus blossom, green pear and biscuit characters on the nose.

Palate:  Full and fruity with attractive pear, baked apple and nectarine flavours.  It has very attractive tropical and lime blossom characters with an exotic spicy finish.

Vintage:  Fruit was hand picked from 14 year old Pinot Noir vines on Scott Henry trellising. A warm, dry autumn contributed produced good quality fruit and excellent flavours.

Wine Making:  All fruit was very gently whole bunch pressed to minimize skin contact and colour extraction and the juice cool fermented to preserve primary fruit characters. 

Sulphur:  This wine is made with minimal levels of sulphur/SO2/preservative 220.

Vegetarian:  This wine is suitable for vegetarian diets.

Alcohol:  13.5 %       

Acidity: 6.4 g/l        

Residual Sugar: 6.9 g/l

Silver Medal, Hong Kong International Wine Challenge 2011

"A lovely white wine (just a touch of pink) made from hand-picked Pinot Noir, displaying floral, red cherry and strawberry characters on the nose. The palate is rounded and supple with a hint of sweetness and well balanced acidity. The wine is beautifully weighted and textured with an excellent persistence.

87 pts «««« Stars"

- Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

“Blanc de Noir, literally meaning “white from black”, usually refers to a Champagne made from the juice obtained by pressing pinot noir grapes before they are fermented. It thus only has a hint of colour. This Nelson wine, made in the same way, but without bubbles, is shot with a tinge of apricot. It is fruity and has a spine of firm, tangy acid, which is well balanced by its medium sweetness. It is a pleasant, easy drinking summer style of wine.”

- Ivan Donaldson, The Press 27 April 2011

"Richmond Plains is an organic and biodynamic producer who may have flown under the radar but are making sharp wines at really reasonable prices. One of my favourites from their range is the Blanc de Noir. Never heard of this? Don’t worry - it’s not a grape variety, but a style of wine. It’s actually 100% Pinot Noir, but made as a white wine. This may sound strange, but the result is a dry, fruity delight that is versatile with food. Peach gold in colour, luscious pear, and stonefruit with a bit of spice and kaffir lime."

- Rebecca Taylor, Capital Times 25/5/11

"A ‘white’ (in reality pale pink) Nelson wine made from pinot noir.  Full-bodied, with strawberryish, slightly peachy and spicy flavours, slightly sweet, fresh and smooth."

- Michael Cooper, Winestate

"Pale pink wine - quite pretty. Delicate strawberry flavours with good purity. An initial hint of sweetness leads to a drying finish. Distinctive and reasonably attractive."

- Bob Campbell MW

Price: $19.99 per bottle. > ORDER NOW