"Tasted two years ago, this wine has really responded positively to bottle age. Plum and raspberry flavours with a subtle hint of savoury and spice. A medium-bodied red with an appealing silken texture and lengthy finish." Bob Cambell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Nov 2016

"Light ruby-red colour with some depth and light garnet hues on the rim. The nose is softly full with gentle aromas of savoury dark-red berry fruits along with subtle notes of dark herbs and earth. The aromatics show good intensity and unfolds piquant nuances of liquorice, with suggestions of resinous oak. Medium-full bodied, the palate possesses mouthfilling and succulent flavours of savoury dark-red berry fruits entwined with dark and dried herbs, a little game and earthy elements. The fruit is enlivened by fresh, bright, lacy acidity and supported by light, grainy, but supple tannin extraction providing a firm line. The wine flows to a fill, lively finish of savoury red fruits, earth and game. This is a mouthfilling Pinot Noir with savoury dark-red berry along with earth and game notes, framed by light, grainy structure and fresh acidity. Match with mushroom dishes, duck, pork and game over the next 4+ years. Clones 5, 115, 114, 667, 777, Abel and some 10/5 from the ‘Home’ and ‘River’ blocks, fermented with minimal whole clusters and partially with indigenous yeasts to 13.6% alc., the wine aged 12 months in 8% new oak followed by a further 6 months in seasoned oak" Raymond Chan, Nov 2016

On the palate the wine has the silky smooth quality of a lounge lizard in a crimplene neck tie. The great breadth is evident as flat-pack abs support muscular pectorals of well rounded red-current fruit. A crackling structure of snapped cabin bread leads to a pithy texture as fine as ground charcoal, while a languidly lazy acidity trickles down around the edges. Like pennies from heaven, the mid-season heat can be sensed rather than felt and a surprising lick in the finish will keep you coming back for more.

There is nothing like an early harvest to catch a winemaker off guard. While close followers of grapevine phenolics probably saw it coming, our “Raiders of the Lost Ark” approach saw us scrambling when the earliest harvest on record began in the 19th of March. What does this mean for wine quality? Well, a benign start to the season with high winds and a notable absence of frosts enabled the vines to get off to a flying start and set a better than average crop. A hot February and warm March then allowed even and rapid ripening followed by harvest decisions based on flavour and acidity rather than impending weather.

The feisty young wine begged a little extra time in oak and after due deliberation was granted a total of 18 months in barrel. This accentuated the savoury/tarry spectrum of the fruit with grated hazelnut, prostrate thyme and tart juniper berries notes initially dominating. Beneath this, a luxurial brocade of rich Christmas cake, biscuity brioche and pungent elderflower lend an open sensuality to a wine already dripping New World charm.