De La Terre, named in reference to our ethos ‘of the earth’, was planted in 2007 and certified organic in 2021. Made up of two blocks, this vineyard is a high-density planting adjacent to Serré, but explores variables of exposition, orientation, and clonal makeup.

De La Terre Pinot Noir is made from a 1.78-acre vineyard block, planted in 2007. The clone is predominantly 777 but includes a portion of 114. The vine spacing is 1m and the row spacing is 1.2m (8,333 vines/hectare), and the block is made up of two sections: the top flat section, which has north-south row orientation, and the east slope, which has an east-west orientation. The soils are dark clay over weathered basalt and limestone.

The fruit was handpicked, completely destemmed, and fermented on skins for 10 days before pressing to French oak hogshead barrels, 25% of which were new. The wine was left undisturbed, went through malolactic fermentation in spring, and was blended and bottled in February.

De La Terre is lifted and savoury, showing bramble, red berries, and garrigue on the nose. The palate carries through with cherry cola, spice and a ferrous edge—lighter and finer in structure than Serré, but with serious intent and complex savoury tones. A detailed and earthy Pinot Noir that sits on the edgier side of our estate’s stylistic spectrum.
Though penned in 2012, James Halliday’s “reminiscent of a young DRC,” remark remains a ringing endorsement for this close-planted site. After its brief hiatus, the 2022 serves as a wonderful reminder of the heights this site can scale. The fruit fermented with 100% whole bunches for 10 days before the juice was removed from its stems. The wine then matured in hogsheads (25% new). Savoury and pretty, it’s a seamless and complex release with satiny texture and lingering presence.