Clonal selection
The Delta vineyard has just over 40 hectares (100 acres) planted solely to Pinot Noir. The best of the new Dijon clones (114,115, 667 and 777), plus UCD5 and 6 are planted on rootstocks 101/14, 3309 and Schwartzman.Each of the clones contributes different nuances to the final wine. 115 has classic Pinot perfume and considerable structure. 777, 5 and 6 have deep colour and fleshy dark cherry and plum characters. 667 is richly perfumed and plumy, while 114 adds savoury mushroom characters.
The new Dijon clones, developed from Burgundy’s best vineyards in the late 1950s and early 1960s, are perfectly suited to our soil and climate. Earlier Pinot Noir plantings in Marlborough were often comprised of the 10/5 clone, a Swiss clone more suited to sparkling wine production. Martinborough was the first region to obtain these, and Central Otago was able to develop plantings faster, as they planted on their own roots in the absence of phylloxera.
Vineyard density and management
We have opted for a plant density of 2,150 vines per hectare matching the variety and the rootstock to Marlborough’s soil and climate. It is important to consider the balance of a mature vine when deciding on vine spacing allowing for the root system’s development as it ages. So a study was undertaken of several mature Pinot Noir vineyards with similar soils in the Southern Valleys region before opting for the spacing that was chosen in the Delta Vineyard.Vertical shoot positioning is used to give a balance between leaf area and ideal fruit exposure to avoid green characters without losing the all important perfume.
The soils
The soils at the Delta Vineyard are made up of a top 5 -15 cm of soil of light loam top soil, which gives way to about 30 cm of clay with a high mineral content.Below this is a mixture of clay and stones. The clay retains moisture well, ensuring that the vines do not suffer from water stress. The clay is low in nitrogen, which controls the vigour of the plant.