The slopes of Marlborough’s Southern Valleys are home to a new organic vintage from award-winning winemaker Jules Taylor.
The deep, brooding ‘On the Quiet’ Pinot Noir 2021 vintage is the first organic wine produced by Jules Taylor. Violet, poached plum and stewed tamarillo notes overlay darker hints of blackberry and vanilla compote. The nose is completed by smoky, earthy spice and hints of cocoa and cinnamon from the French oak barriques. This Pinot Noir has an elegant structure embracing a beautiful balance of berry fruit and savoury flavours.
The idea for On the Quiet came originally from a single barrel, hidden at the back of the cellar and kept ‘on the quiet’ from her husband George. Today, these wines are better known and have evolved into a curated series of small batch wines — a personal indulgence for Jules in which to experiment with alternative winemaking approaches, including this first foray into organics.
The Wrekin Vineyard, where these grapes are grown, is a place Jules has a strong connection with. “The Wrekin is a beautiful place full of happy vines and happy people. We love the flavours in the grapes from that site,” she says.
Jules has been making an On the Quiet Pinot Noir from the site since 2016, but this is the first vintage where the finished wine has been certified under BioGro’s organic programme.
The On the Quiet bottle displays the flora and fauna often found in Marlborough’s organic vineyards — Phacelia, buckwheat, wild fennel, bees, and fantails are often found between the grapevines when they are managed in a gentler manner.
This wine makes up part of the On the Quiet series, which is a collection of single vineyard, small batch wines made in tiny quantities — a challenge to conventional winemaking interpretations of Marlborough’s signature varietals.
