Category Archives: Pinot Noir

2012 Chatto Pinot Noir

Ex-Pepper Tree, now chief McWilliam’s winemaker Jim Chatto strikes out on his own with this much touted Pinot Noir from Tasmania’s southern Huon Valley area. When I open a bottle that has received such rapturous applause as this there is always a mixed … Continue reading

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2012 Red Claw Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir

Tom Carson appears to seek substance with his Pinot Noirs and this is certainly a bold wine. The word ethereal isn’t going to be applied to it. Ripe, dense, dark berry/cherry fruits with black spice and a little glossy oak. … Continue reading

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2012 TarraWarra Estate Pinot Noir Rosé

Fruit is sourced from a single block grown especially for rosé. Whole bunch pressed, tank fermented then matured in older, large format French oak. No malo. Pale salmon pink with an onion tint. Aromas of cherry blossom, strawberries, herbs and … Continue reading

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2012 Ashton Hills Reserve Pinot Noir

This shouldn’t appeal to me as much as it does. I’m seldom moved by Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir and the amount of high-grade yet glossy new oak – a key component of the wine – usually puts me off. Despite … Continue reading

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2012 Hoddles Creek 1er Pinot Noir

A more feminine and perfumed Hoddles Creek 1er Pinot Noir than the previous 2010 release but every bit as good. 20% whole bunches, eighteen months in barrel. Roses, raspberries, smoked meats, sour cherry and black spice. It’s highly structured and needs … Continue reading

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2011 Ten Minutes by Tractor McCutcheon Vineyard Pinot Noir

A tough vintage it may have been but that only makes the successful wines shine brighter. There’s a lot to like about the 2011 McCutcheon Vineyard Pinot Noir – which is happy news for all of us as no Judd Vineyard … Continue reading

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2011 Ten Minutes by Tractor Estate Pinot Noir

Unsurprisingly the 2011 Ten Minutes by Tractor Pinots seem to have had a tougher time of it than the Chardonnays from the same vintage. Fruit takes a back seat here. It smells and tastes of decaying leaf matter, earth, cranberries … Continue reading

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2012 Ten Minutes by Tractor 10X Pinot Noir

The Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noirs that I’m seeing from the 2012 vintage are an impressive bunch so far. This is good introduction although I’ll admit it whets my appetite for the release of the single vineyard wines. Wild yeast fermented, … Continue reading

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2012 Ten Minutes by Tractor 10X Rosé

A much deeper pink hue than is indicated by the bottle shot. Good rosé though, make no mistake. 26 hours on skins then into old French barriques for wild ferment and two months maturation. No malo, 100% Pinot Noir. It … Continue reading

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2012 Oakridge Local Vineyard Series Willowlake Vineyard Pinot Noir

All of these 2012 Local Vineyard Series Pinots are from the Upper Yarra Valley with Willowlake situated in Gladysdale. Each one employed whole berry fermentation in open vessels followed by 10 months maturation in French oak. Ripe strawberries, rose petals, … Continue reading

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