News update from Lamont Wines - Central Otago

Published: 09/01/2012

Well fingers crossed, but so far we have had the perfect season. We had quite a wet spring (September) and the weather over the last 2 months has been dry and hot and only 4 mils of rain for the month of December. The vines are absolutely loving it and flowering went through quickly in December, ensuring even fruit and bunches, which are now looking extremely healthy and vibrant. We have been shoot thinning, wire lifting and trimming on the vineyard and have been applying some wonderful organic seaweed, fish teas and compost to feed the microbes in the soil, keeping it well balanced and healthy and in turn feeding the vines.

The vineyards at Bendigo are now organic and over the past three years have noticed a continuous increase in the health and structure of our soils and the vines. The complexities, structure and balance of the wines continues to increase as we keep fine tuning our viticultural practices. In October the Lamont Winemaker, Duncan Gibson, returned from yet another vintage in Burgundy and brings back with him expertise and knowledge that is always of benefit when making premium Pinot Noir.

Duncan has been winemaking in Central Otago for the past three years and spends winter in the Northern hemisphere. Many winemakers with different views have influenced Duncan’s winemaking style. He has tried to take the best of what each has had to offer but learnt that the best wines are made by winemakers that do not force the wine through the winemaking process but rather let the wine make itself. He believes that when making wine science has to be respected to a point but not overused. His philosophy is very much akin to Lamont’s, and we are extremely proud to have him making our wines.

Jude Coleman

Lamont Wines - Central Otago