Blue Pyrenees Midnight Cuvee CONFIRM VINTAGE

Chardonnay Pinot Noir Pyrenees Victoria
The production of Methode traditionelle has been an essential part of the winemaking at Blue Pyrenees for many years, the original raison d'être. Established 1963 by the Champagne houses of Charles Heidsieck and Krug, an adherence to the transcendent French influence of the founders is central. In 1992, the Blue Pyrenees team decided to experiment with hand picking their fruit, under floodlights, in the middle of the night. The results were amazing, a most memorable vintage of outstanding quality, Midnight Cuvée was born.
Available by the dozen
Case of 12
$407.00
Although hand picked fruit is often most desirable for the production of premium quality juices, day time temperatures in Australia can mean that the grapes will often be quite warm when received into the press after a day's picking. Nowadays the Blue Pyrenees team select the best fruit parcels, whilst still on the vine, to be separated out from the rest and picked at night by hand to generate the juices which will become Midnight Cuvee. Although very laborious and time consuming, the rewards are evident in the glass. Midnight Cuvée is made entirely from estate grown fruit, predominantly Chardonnay for elegance and refinement, with a touch of Pinot Noir. Alcohol 12.5%
Brilliant pale straw hues, a fine gentle bead. The aroma is delicate and complex, yeast autolysis characters of freshly baked bread complimented by citrus fruits and hazelnut. The bright, green apple flavoured palate exhibits a fine acid backbone which enhances the fresh doughy yeast notes and fine refreshing effervescence. A wine of great elegance, balance and finesse, a long and clean, lingering finish.
Blue Pyrenees
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Blue Pyrenees
The Pyrenees region of Central Victoria is the third oldest of the State's vignobles

The mountain range was named by the noted explorer and surveyor Major Thomas Mitchell, for its raw beauty and similarities to the Pyrenees in south western France, where Mitchell had served as a young Army officer. The first grower of vines for winemaking in the Avoca area was a man named MacKereth, who planted his vines in 1848. His vineyards grew to supply the thirsty miners working in the then thriving old mining industry.

Blue Pyrenees

Over the years, Blue Pyrenees Estate has established a truly unique winestyle that captures the perfect balance between new world high technology and old world tradition. It is interesting that the lake depicted on the Blue Pyrenees Estate labels was originally the site of a gold mine, but on following a gold reef, miners struck an underground spring, which is now the source of a valuable water supply to the Estate.

It was in the early 1960's that the area was recognised for its potential for premium quality wine production with its unique combination of deep gravely soils and cool climate conditions. Following considerable development and experimentation the initial release under the Blue Pyrenees label was the 1982 Blue Pyrenees Estate Reserve Red. The rest, as they say is history.

The painting on the label is reproduced from the original oil painting by the respected artist Lorrie Banks. It depicts moonlight over the vineyards and was painted in 1985 and represents the Estate signature.

Blue Pyrenees

The factors determining terroir are primarily climate, geology and hydrology or soil water relations. The Blue Pyrenees Estate in the Pyrenees of Central Victoria was selected because these factors could be identified in a specific combination ideally suiting premium quality wine production. Research conducted by viticulturists and CSIRO of Australia demonstrates that Blue Pyrenees Estate consistently reaches maturity ten days after Coonawarra, a key reference for cool climate viticulture in this country.

Blue Pyrenees Estate is also the coolest in the Pyrenees region, with a diversity of microclimate and soils enabling each clone, and each variety to be planted in the best situation. The vineyards have been planted along the foothills facing north, at an altitude of 400 metres. Rainfall averages around 630mm, the pattern in most seasons being ideal - mainly in winter and early spring.

Red sandstone, old grey gravel and colluvium of pure loam. Each grape variety and its chosen clone is painstakingly selected and planted in suitable soils and within the appropriate micro climate. Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot were planted, specifically in order to produce a superior house style, blended red wine. Several clones of Chardonnay are planted in selected sites to produce a flavoursome white wine and in other sites, for fine sparkling wine production. Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier were also planted in these ideal Pyrenees cool climate conditions. In fact, the Estate now has the largest plantings of Pinot Meunier in Australia.

Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are also grown on the property. Petit Verdot is now planted, as is Viognier the premiere varietal of Condrieu in France. These fine quality grape varieties are planted in vineyards totaling 185 hectares or some 460 acres, making it the largest single Estate investment in the premium Pyrenees winegrowing region.

Blue Pyrenees