04-Sep-2017
‘Beetle Juice’ is the secondary Pinot Noir brand of the well-known Wooing Tree Vineyard at Cromwell in Central Otago. It is named after the critically endangered Cromwell Chafer Beetle found only in one site in Cromwell. An 81 ha area of windblown sand dunes has been set aside to preserve its habitat. The ‘Beetle Juice’ wine is a single vineyard wine, and made as a selection from fruit not employed in the ‘estate’ label. Wooing Tree proprietor tells me that due to the demand for this wine, much of the fruit destined for the ‘estate’ label is diverted to the making of the ‘Beetlejuice’. Peter Bartle of VinPro is the Wooing Tree winemaker. My most recent tasting of Wooing Tree Pinot Noirs (click here to see my reviews) suggested a vineyard character of fruit with more savoury flavours and greater textures. My review of this 2016 ‘Beetle Juice’ shows a more primary-fruit focussed wine, indicating the site character may need some bottle age to be exhibited clearly. Here is my review. www.wooingtree.co.nz
