Hand-picked across our four Estate blocks (3 x MV6, 1 x D2V5 clones) over 20 days. All fruit was hand-sorted and destemmed or crushed to small open vats. Stalks were added back to select parcels for additional complexity. A mix of natural fermentation and inoculated yeasts. Cuvaison length ranged from 1 to 3 weeks on skins. Hand-plunged or pumped-over a maximum of once per day for gentle extraction and integration of tannin.
Exhibiting a fine line and subtle slow-building power on a savoury-focused palate, this Pinot Noir is the result of an assemblage of thirteen individual small batches sourced from our Maroondah Highway vineyard. A light yet vibrant field of colour precedes lifted aromas of red cherries and blood plum evolving to darker notes of sarsaparilla and myrtle-leaf orange. Savoury elements of nutmeg, bay leaf, sandalwood and shiitake mushroom broth further complex with a background shout-out from an underlying stalky note. The composed slow-building palate unfurls with flavours of red cherry, wild strawberry, Campari and rhubarb with a late emergence of pink peppercorns, pimenton and a chestnut meal texture.
From the exemplary 2021 Yarra Valley vintage, which was characterised by minimal crops and tiny berries with abundant tannin, this is one of our most beguilingly complex and savoury projections of Pinot Noir. The palate backloads with an accumulation of fine-grained, seamlessly integrated tannins married with a fine line of natural acidity and complexing stalk influence. The wine confidently pushes through the full length of the palate to a sweeping lingering finish. This wine is vegan friendly.
