Devotus “Aprentis of Devotus” Pinot Noir 2024

Established by Don and Valerie McConachy, Devotus is a small, family-owned estate devoted exclusively to Pinot Noir on the Martinborough Terrace in New Zealand's Wairarapa region. Aprentis is produced from the estate's younger vines, aged between 12 and 25 years, comprising Dijon, Abel and Pommard clones. The vineyard is dry-farmed and managed organically without certification, with mechanical weed control and cover crops cultivated to improve soil fertility. The 2024 growing season was exceptionally dry from December through harvest, although cold conditions during flowering reduced yields. Hand-harvested on 11 March, the fruit was fermented with indigenous yeasts, incorporating 40% whole bunches, and spent ten days on skins before maturation for ten months in seasoned French oak. Bottled without fining or filtration, the wine combines fragrant red berries with subtle flinty aromas, whole-bunch spice and a suggestion of caramel. The palate is supple and concentrated, with a generous core of red fruit, fine tannins and a savoury finish.