De Bortoli Cool Climate Pinot Noir 2024

De Bortoli Cool Climate Pinot Noir 2024

  09:00    Stu.

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Savoury lead-in, but it's the palate where this brings forth its varietal and regional qualities.

It's made by the Yarra Valley winemaking team of Kate Webber and Jai Harrop, distinguished winemakers in their own right, and each from winemaking families of renown. 

Black cherry and plum with some cool clime herbal character. Whilst being a lighter expression, it flows through on a decent length of flavour. Nice grip of tannin, twist of black pepper. Ready to go now! 90

Tasted on: Sunday 12th October
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: TBC
Closure: Screwcap
Website: debortoli.com.au

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Apricus Hill Pinot Noir 2024

Apricus Hill Pinot Noir 2024

  06:30    Stu.

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Deep and dark style of a Pinot Noir. Black fruit, veering to smoked meat - like a clove studded ham - following through to chocolate notes.

Palate conveys a similar depth of flavour. Touch of bitterness through the latter part of the palate. Tannins are fine, tight, mouth-coating. 91

Tasted on: Sunday 31st August
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Sample courtesy of: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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Tapanappa Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024

Tapanappa Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024

  07:40    Stu.

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Citrus oil, satsuma plum, hibiscus - the former is something I've seen previously in renditions of this wine, it's not something that one might necessarily expect in a maritime influenced Pinot Noir, but I stand by my convictions.

The body belies its modest 12.7% alcohol, with fine graphite tannins and a flint-like edge giving substance. It's savoury, with a subtle mushroom - and building to a forest floor presence - with what might be a little liquid smoke. Another fine representation from this impressive vineyard. 94

Tasted on: Sunday 19th October

Source: Sample
Price: $60
Alcohol: 12.7%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: tapanappa.com.au

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Nautilus Southern Valleys Pinot Noir 2020

Nautilus Southern Valleys Pinot Noir 2020

  11:22    Stu.

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A vibrant garnet in glass, redolent of maraschino cherry, rose florals and hibiscus. Bright and perfumed, one can almost feel the kiss of warmth late on a Summer's day here. 

Mid-weight on entry, it starts to firm up through the palate, building and bringing a little baking spice and even a nod towards a fresh twist of black pepper. Long and savoury on the finish - exemplary Marlborough Pinot Noir. 94

Tasted on: Tuesday 22nd July
Source: Sample
Price: $40NZ
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.nautilusestate.com/

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Slow Wine Co Reserve Pinot Noir 2021

Slow Wine Co Reserve Pinot Noir 2021

  12:45    Stu.

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Grown at 960m, fruit from vines established in 1990. Vines of some pedigree and at the margins of what is considered cool climate viticulture.

Satsuma plum, baked raspberry, certainly on the leaner side of the red fruit spectrum. There's a lingering freshness to the periphery, a bright and vibrant halo - so to speak.

An elegance and freshness personifies the wine on entry. Fine tannins on a persistent length, balanced acid with a lovely carriage of flavour. Top tier Pinot Noir. 94

Tasted on: Thursday 19th September
Source: Sample
Price: $65
Alcohol: 14.3%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://slowwineco.com.au/

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Tapanappa Foggy Hill Pinot Noir 2023

Tapanappa Foggy Hill Pinot Noir 2023

  09:54    Stu.

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Beautiful expression of Pinot Noir and of Foggy Hill, of course.

Plum, dark cherry, a lingering undertow of spice, a dab seasoned oak adding its signature.

The palate is exquisitely framed: darker fruit presence, it feels polished, a suggestion of newer oak here. Lovely firming tannins, on an excellent length. Lovely depth of flavour, black tea building through the finish. Quite reserved at this juncture, excellent promise ahead. A yes here. 94

Tasted on: Tuesday 8th October
Source: Sample
Price: $60
Alcohol: 13.6%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://tapanappa.com.au/

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Jean Loron Pinot Noir 2023

Jean Loron Pinot Noir 2023

  08:46    Stu.

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Vin de France Pinot Noir here - broadly meaning it either falls outside a designated region (appellation) or fails to confirm to AOC rules for a variety in a region.

Blackcurrant and bramble, it smells cool and is suggestive of an amount of whole bunch in the mix.

Savoury, hint of home-brand Cola, slight sappy note. Fine rub of tannin. Yes it pulls a bit short, but all up forms an attractive package. 89

Tasted on: Thursday 11th July
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Sample courtesy of: https://www.singlevineyards.com/ 

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Mayfield Vineyard Mrs Crawford Pinot Noir 2023

Mayfield Vineyard Mrs Crawford Pinot Noir 2023

  08:00    Stu.

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A new wine for the Estate range, this Mayfield Vineyard Mrs Crawford Pinot Noir is a nod to Margaret Crawford who owned the property for 65. Hand-picked fruit, 30% whole bunch, French oak for nine months (20% new).

Generousity on offer here, a succulent red and black fruit mix. Even with minimal air time it starts to open up, offering alternative vistas into the wine's charms.

Cassis, passionfruit, glimpses of citrus oil. It's succulent, fleshy, juicy. Some woodsy and earthy mushroom hints too, set against a fine grain of tannin - the two aspects working in tandem to offer a package where the sum is greater than the individual parts. 93

Tasted on: Wednesday 1st May
Source: Sample
Price: $37
Alcohol: TBC
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.mayfieldvineyard.com.au/

Sample Courtesy of: https://definewine.com.au/   

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Tarras Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020

Tarras Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020

  08:24    Stu.

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Dark cherry, rose petal, plum - almost plum sauce like in presentation.

It's a single vineyard Pinot from Central Otago, in New Zealand's South Island.

Firmer in style, typical of the region - with is dry environment. Plush, velvet like tannins - with a firmer backstop of flavour. Spiced, touch of dry leaf litter - lovely expression of CO Pinot Noir. 93

Tasted on: Saturday 11th May
Source: Sample
Price: $60
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://tarrasvineyards.com/

Sample courtesy of: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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Foggy Hill Vineyard Definitus Pinot Noir 2021

Foggy Hill Vineyard Definitus Pinot Noir 2021

  14:51    Stu.

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November 1st 2023 sees the release of this wine - along with the accompany Tapanappa Foggy Hill Pinot Noir 2021.

On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the Foggy Hill vineyard, winemaker Brian Croser - accompanied by wife Ann - embarked on a series of tasting and dinners to celebrate this milestone.

Whilst the Definitus wasn't part of that tasting, opportunity afforded to review it post. The Definitus is akin to a block level wine, the Definitus strip being a sub-ridge formed where ferruginuous sandstone comes close to the surface. It also marks a delineation between two rows of two Bernard Clones (115 and 117, planted in 2003). Winemaker code for: "I think I've something rather special here".

A darker manifestation, of blackberry with some Rosella like relief. Slightly sapid hints, not whole bunch, of depth and intensity.

A delicacy on entry, a light hand, seemingly at odds with the darker elements that introduce the wine. A burst of flavour that reminds of the pop of aromatic from a freshly pierced orange skin - atypical Pinot in my frame if reference, but there nonetheless.

Through the finish a pop of cassis like brilliance, bright and prime with a long tail of flavour through fine and persistent tannins. At turns it feels youthful, yet with a position that suggests longevity. 95

Tasted on: Tuesday 24th October
Source: Sample
Price: $90
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://tapanappa.com.au/

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Tapanappa Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022

Tapanappa Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022

  14:38    Stu.

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Foggy Hill is Brian Croser's latest (albeit one twenty years in the making) passion project, down on the Southern tip of the Fleurieu.

Cool, maritime influenced, the site for this stunningly consistent Pinot. 

Leads with a floral, rose-raspberry mix over Sage. Spice - pepper and Chinese five spice - linger in the background, supplementing the initial brighter aromatics with added depth.

The palate is deep, rich - with a balance of tight and fine tannins, with a freshening acidity in the mix. Finishes long, with an appealing mineral like pucker. Offers finesse, elegance, yet without sacrificing depth of flavour - there's longevity here for sure, if you can keep your mitts off that is. 94

Tasted on: Sunday 22nd October
Source: Sample
Price: $60
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://tapanappa.com.au/

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Saint & Scholar Graduates Collection Pinot Noir 2021

Saint & Scholar Graduates Collection Pinot Noir 2021

  08:00    Stu.

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For those who don't know, Saint & Scholar is a secondary label of Barossa based Kaesler.

Here Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir, fruit drawn off a single vineyard, clocking in a very respectable 13.5%.

Fruit at the lighter end of the red Berry spectrum: strawberry, raspberry - perhaps even a playful twist of pomegranate getting in on the action.

A light hand on the tiller across the palate, cooler clime Hills spice starts to come to the fore mid-palate, asserting itself through the finish. Decent Pinot, with a play to all hands. 91

Tasted on: Thursday 23rd March
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://saintandscholar.com.au/

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Harewood Estate Flux V Pinot Noir 2022

Harewood Estate Flux V Pinot Noir 2022

  07:51    Stu.

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Plum and sour cherry vibe here - cool rendition of Pinot Noir from Denmark, in Western Australia's Great Southern region.

Veers towards a dark fruit profile on the palate: tight, dense tannin profile. Delivers an excellent length, but one suggests the enjoyment factor will be enhanced with time, or a bloody good decant. 92

Tasted on: Thursday 20th April
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Sample courtesy of: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

Producer: https://harewood.com.au/

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Castel Firmian Pinot Nero 2020

Castel Firmian Pinot Nero 2020

  13:36    Stu.

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Pinot Nero from Trentino.

Conveys a dark cherry with something like a choc coated aroma - altogether rather pleasant.

The palate is familiar in that respect too, the addition of a grilled nut character makes this the perfect accompaniment for the cooler months, with the nights drawing in.

There's a gentleness to it in initial entry, with a firmer backbone that translates into a good length. Enjoyable, comforting, balanced. 92

Tasted on: Tuesday 30th May
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: TBC
Closure: Cork
Website: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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Mayfield Vineyard William Pinot Noir 2022

Mayfield Vineyard William Pinot Noir 2022

  08:40    Stu.

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One year old Pinot from Orange. 285 dozen produced.

Speaks to a somewhat deeper and darker representation of Pinot: briar, dark cherry, blue fruit and florals.

The palate is a mid to full weight, a generous palate presence with a pitch of acidity against a blue/black fruit mix.

For the ask, I'd like to see more depth, presence and barrel time. That said the fruit quality does shine through. 92

Tasted on: Thursday 18th May
Source: Sample
Price: $65
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.mayfieldvineyard.com.au

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Tessera Peggy Sue Sparkling Pinot Noir NV

Tessera Peggy Sue Sparkling Pinot Noir NV

  08:42    Stu.

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Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir fizz, made in the Charmat (tank fermented) method. From husband and wife negociant team who source across the Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale regions.

You can't call a wine Peggy Sue and not expect a "pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty" reference thrown in! A delicate blush in glass draws the eye, the nose lead-in with a kiss of summer berry.

Creamy mouthfeel, coarser effervescence - lending a cleansing feel to the palate. You'd suspect Peggy Sue would be just the girl to kick off a party - you know the type. 90

Tasted on: Saturday 4th February
Source: Gift
Price: $26.66
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: DIAM
Website: https://tesserawines.com.au/

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Rotari Gran Rose Millesimato Brut 2016

Rotari Gran Rose Millesimato Brut 2016

  17:00    Stu.

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Deeper salmon hued, 3 years on lees gives the secondary autolytic characters. Stonefruit and red fruits add a softer aspect.

The palate has a soft roundness, almost crispy - yet with a crisper, harder edge. A latent edge of fruit sweetness perks things up again, as if to provide a secondary movement for the wine. Decent bubbles. 91

Tasted on: Friday 4th November
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Cork
Website: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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Harewood Estate Denmark Pinot Noir 2022

Harewood Estate Denmark Pinot Noir 2022

  14:04    Stu.

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Pinot Noir from the maritime cool of Denmark in Western Australia's Great Southern region.

It's all Plum, cassis - set against a darker edge, smoked wood and perhaps even a touch meaty in its initial representation.

Lithe, juicy - succulent red fruits, again before a darker edge. Light and shade, night and day. A wine of opposing parts - contributing overall to the whole.

An edge of tannin that adds an extra element to the contrasting fruit profile. 92

Tasted on: Tuesday 18th October
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://harewood.com.au/

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Huntington Estate Dry Pinot Noir Rosé 2022

Huntington Estate Dry Pinot Noir Rosé 2022

  20:52    Stu.

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I often just smell this wine and think of the town of my birth, for it evokes that quintessential summer dessert - and summer vibe - of strawberries and cream.

A bone dry Rosé, with a curl of berry sweetness licking it's way across the palate. A touch of phenolic presence and on a good length, it's something to grace any table this summer. 92

Tasted on: Sunday 9th October
Source: Sample
Price: $27
Alcohol: 12.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://huntingtonestate.com.au/

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Clandestine Vineyards Pinot Noir 2021

Clandestine Vineyards Pinot Noir 2021

  08:30    Stu.

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First Pinot Noir from the Clandestine crew, unsurprisingly sourced from the Adelaide Hills - where their
excellent Pinot Grigio hails.

It's a riot of dark fruit, Plum and black cherry. Yet for that its lithe and supple, a delicious wave of fruit sweeping across the palate.

A fine rasp of tannin, flash of acid for freshness, a generous tail of flavour that is seemingly perpetual in manner. It sees some winemaking love, by way of whole bunch (15%) and some new oak (30%) adding to an overall packaged that is is delicious, balanced, moreish - overall quite a dangerous combination. 91

Tasted on: Thursday 20th January
Source: Sample
Price: $24
Alcohol: TBC
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://clandestinevineyards.com.au/

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