Pinot Noir

Margaret River

Pinot Noir

So this is a wine that's been sourced from further south at Karridale, a region that is far cooler than the Wilyabrup sub-region of Moss Wood. Outremont is French for "another way", and that explains Moss Wood's sourcing of pinot from another region. There's a beautiful perfumed red fruit aroma, cherry, and subtle red fruits. The palate is vibrant with...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

Well, well, well. I expected the ’23 pinot from Picardy to be pretty special, and it is. Actually, it’s better than special. Aromatics are fragrant and alluring, with bright red fruits, a subtle truffly raspberry and cherry mix, and a touch of limestone nuance. The palate is simply sublime. This is pinot noir that helps define the variety in Western...

Great Southern

Pinot Noir

It’s amazing how good some of these Great Southern wines have been from what was a very hot vintage. The slightly cooler environment seems to have suited them, and in this case, it has produced a wine that shows the plushness of pinot noir, with excellent structure from a fine thread of tannin, light oak, and the natural acidity so...

Great Southern

Pinot Noir

This is a lovely fruit-driven style of pinot noir, with bright red fruits showing primary notes of wild strawberry and raspberry, and just a faint hint of sour cherry. The texture is fine and quite delicate, yet there is a deep intensity here as it wraps up with subtle oak, fine tannins, and a nice acidity to harness and carry...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

Starting to establish itself as one of the premier pinot noir producers in the state, and this wine perfectly illustrates that claim. Red fruits with sour cherry, slightly earthy mushroom-like influence, and then some brighter cranberry and raspberry-like characters. The palate is typically light-bodied, but it has power and persistence. Intricately layered and woven together, with the chalky tannins and...

Manjimup

Pinot Noir

A highly expressive pinot from a season which turned out pretty well for this variety. Aromas of sour cherry and mushroom are typically pinot, and then some lighter, brighter red fruits emerge. The palate has a slightly spicy character. It's textured and seamless, with a fine thread of chalky tannins and some nice fine acidity sustaining the structural integrity that...

Great Southern

Pinot Noir

This is Nelson's premium expression of pinot noir from Denmark, and although this was a warm season, everything has come together quite beautifully. Aromas of dark cherry, slightly smoky oak, a touch of mushroom, and a little spice. Such a seamless and velvety smooth medium-weight palate, and there's real power here supported by a fine thread of tannin and well-managed...

Great Southern

Pinot Noir

I can't remember when I tasted my first Karriview pinot, but it was a long time ago. The vineyard is now in the hands of Paul Nelson and is making some wines that truly express character and vineyard terroir. The aromas are of slightly chalky, stalky red fruits with a cherry, raspberry combination. The palate has a fine thread of...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

Not surprising that a vineyard originally set up to make pinot should make some pretty good pinot. Lots of red fruits, cherry and strawberry on the nose, but then there's a little underlay of truffly, mushroom-like character. The palate is completely seamless, medium-bodied, and with a touch of spice and berry working together. Tannins are fine, the oak lightly applied....

Margaret River

Pinot Noir

This is the palest of pale rosé styles, with just a faint hint of onion-skin blush. The wine was whole-bunch pressed and wild fermented in seasoned oak, then matured on chardonnay lees for about four months. The result is a rosé that offers more depth than a typical style, textured with complexity and some weight, yet delivered with fine elegance...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

The 2024 season, although it was hot, turned out to be a pretty good one in Pemberton, and this is a perfect example of what was produced. The aromas show slightly sour cherry, strawberry, and ever-so-faint truffly characters. There's even a little damp earthiness. The medium to light-bodied palate shows more strawberry notes with a touch of raspberry, so it's...

Margaret River

Pinot Noir

This is one of the finest pinot noirs yet from Moss Wood, delivering a wine of subtlety and power in equal measure. The vintage contributed vibrant colour, floral, cherry and raspberry aromatics, and a sublimely textured, finely integrated palate. Fine acidity and chalkiness complement the bright red fruits, capturing what pinot is all about. A terrific example of the variety...

Mount Barker

Pinot Noir

If you're looking for a value-for-money, pure and vibrant young pinot noir that won’t cost the earth, then this little guy is just about spot on. It has some lovely, slightly spicy red fruits on the nose with the faintest mushroomy underlay. The palate releases a vibrant raspberry-cherry red fruit mix with subtle oak integration and a fine, long finish....

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

This is an excellent pinot noir from an excellent season at Pemberton. It comes from the Channybearup Vineyard, which produces some outstanding fruit for Cherubino. The oak maturation, as the name suggests, was in foudre for about eight months. Aromas are quite beautiful, with a sour cherry and raspberry combination, then a palate that is medium-weight but with excellent structure....

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

This is a beautifully expressive Pemberton pinot loaded with bright red fruits displaying a fresh strawberry and confectionery raspberry coulis type of combination. A light to medium-bodied wine, but there is palate intensity here that carries through to sustain an impressive finish. Nice short-term wine.

Mount Barker

Pinot Noir

The colour is brilliant with a crimson red-pink colour. It was a slightly cooler vintage than previous vintages. About 30% whole bunches have been included, and then a week of cold soaking before being left to ferment with wild yeasts. There is a nice sour cherry and strawberry aroma here, and it’s had about 24% new oak. The palate is...

Great Southern

Pinot Noir

Denmark is such a good region for pinot, and this one from the very good 2023 season is a beautifully expressive example/ On the nose, you get that fairly typical varietal combination of truffles and cherry with a lifted strawberry note. The palate reveals more red fruit flavours, supported by a firmish tannin thread for structure with a spicy lift...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

A solid and impressive shiraz from a very good season. An opening salvo of black fruits shows intensity and drive. On the nose, there's a further lift of spicy florals and red fruits with just a trace of raspberry. The palate is firm and concentrated, a powerful wine of great presence, demonstrating what can be achieved with shiraz from the...

Mount Barker

Pinot Noir

A silky smooth and elegantly crafted pinot from this outstanding vineyard. A burst of sour cherry and raspberry, mixed with an assortment of red fruits, greets the nose initially. A slight lifted floral, violet-like character adds further complexity. Into the medium-to-light-bodied palate, bright red fruits emerge, supplemented with subtle, spicy, earthy truffle-like notes for added interest. Smooth and seamless, with...

Mount Barker

Pinot Noir

This is a vibrant and bright medium-bodied pinot, made to express the beautiful, pretty fruit characters of this variety from this region. The oak influence is minimal, with only larger-format oak used. You’re greeted on the nose with a burst of cherry and raspberry, while the palate reveals lovely textural, bright fruit character, loaded with red fruit and a subtle...

Great Southern

Pinot Noir

Okay, we've got something here. This comes off the family vineyard in Denmark. These vines are now pretty mature and pumping out some classy fruit. The aroma delivers so much of the truffly, slightly funky earthy notes that you get in pinot. It's engaging from the outset, and then into the palate, which is medium-weight but so complex and loaded...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

This was a warm year in Pemberton, and yet it's a region that managed to produce some impressive pinot noir—and this one is a beauty. On the nose, there's that lovely combination of spicy red berry notes with a really subtle, slightly damp earth, truffly nuance sitting within. It's all captured neatly and with excellent composition on a palate which...

Porongurup

Pinot Noir

A tribute to Castle Rock’s founders, Wendy and Angelo, this is an exquisitely crafted wine of polish, texture, and depth. The colour is luminous and alive, belying its lightness with a driving intensity. Tannins and oak are finely tuned, harnessing the fruit into a wine that is focused and long through the palate. Despite the warmth of the vintage, the...

Porongurup

Pinot Noir

A different expression from the standard pinot at Castle Rock, this wine reflects greater winemaking influence. Hand-picked and whole bunch fermented, it opens with perfumed aromas of cherry and strawberry. The colour is lighter, yet the wine possesses immense power. Fine chalky tannins and neatly integrated oak carry the wine through to an endlessly long finish. Classy and structured, with...

Porongurup

Pinot Noir

Rob Diletti has proven himself one of the state’s finest winemakers, particularly in his handling of pinot noir. This shows elegance, with slightly savoury, truffly characters and vibrant fruit purity. Aromas of strawberry and cherry lead into a palate that rolls effortlessly, supported by fine tannins and well-integrated oak. Fleshy and textural, while retaining fine acidity. A testament to skilled...

Margaret River

Pinot Noir

Margaret River is often overlooked for the quality of its pinots, and in a year like 2022 where the fruit was intense, pinot is well suited. It's been expertly crafted, with aromas of sour cherry, light red berry, and an ever-so-faint truffly character. The palate has a nice grainy texture, with a lifted acidity that drives it through to a...

Great Southern

Pinot Noir

Throughout what was a very warm year, the fruit sourced from vineyards in the Great Southern—in this case, Mount Barker—has turned out pretty well for Pinot Noir. The colour is slightly translucent with a purply-red and crimson hue. The aroma displays a savoury, chalky sour cherry character with bright raspberry fruit. It's tightly knit with fine tannins and a subtle...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

A thoroughly beautiful, fresh and vibrant expression of pinot noir designed for drinking in the short term, but with some medium-term options. Comes from the Bellarmine Vineyard at Pemberton, and after 30% whole bunch in the fermentation, it was only lightly touched by oak. Fragrant strawberry and confectionary raspberry notes. The palate is light-bodied, but there is structure with a...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

Sourced from Pemberton in a year that was hot but somehow in Pemberton managed to produce some impressive pinots. Shows you can’t paint every region with the same seasonal brush. Medium to light-bodied with a bright crimson colour. Spicy red fruits with a little cranberry edginess. The palate is fine and bony with a precise acidity defining. Finishes with a...

Manjimup

Pinot Noir

A bolder and more powerful statement than the earlier approachability of the Angelina. But there is still the vineyard and house style that is about seamless silky-smooth balance and integration with high energy vibrant fruit. Cherry and raspberry notes with deeper forest floor and light cedary. The fine tannins provide a tight structural core, but there is warmth and suppleness...

Manjimup

Pinot Noir

The brilliant crimson-red colour is slightly translucent. And bright as a button. Aromas of sour cherry and subtle truffle oil emerge on the nose with a little chalk dust and raspberry confection. The palate is sublimely crafted with a seamless oak and fruit integration supported by silky fine tannins. It’s a succulent wine that is ready for drinking now, but...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

Wow, this is something special…very special. This is at the pinnacle of the Pannell family’s quest for great pinot noir. The 2020 vintage is spoken of in hushed tones, yet this one is pushing it all the way. It was a little closed when tasted but you don’t have to look far to see its greatness. It’s a multi-clonal blend...

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

A most pretty wine showing delightfully friendly primary red fruit characters on the nose and then into the palate. Floral notes merge with cherry and spicy slightly earthy notes. The palate is light bodied and deliciously fruit driven, displaying bright fruit characters. The palate is balanced with excellent tannin and oak harnessing the fruit, building relentlessly to a long finish.

Pemberton

Pinot Noir

Here's a compelling case for holding back some of these wines. I looked at it 12 months ago, and while it was tidy and impressive then, that extra year to settle has improved it immeasurably, earning another tick from me. The aroma is floral and perfumed with cherries and plums, and the palate delivers with certainty and poise, showing slightly...

Margaret River

Pinot Noir

Pinot in Margaret River remains an enigma. Yet when you get good years it works well. The generosity of the ’22 vintage is captured in this pretty and powerful pinot. Wild raspberry and cherry notes with a subtle spice. The palate is deeply intense but delivers a light effortless touch. A firm core of fine acid and tannin treads deep...

Great Southern

Pinot Noir

This a small vineyard planted in Kalgan River on very narrow rows. Handpicked, whole bunch and it has a real pinot character which the guys saw on the vineyard. Has a bright raspberry aroma and a brilliant bright crimson colour. The palate is light-bodied yet it has structure and poise as it heads down a path to a long finish....

Great Southern

Pinot Noir

Terrific pinot, displaying complexity, structure and poise within its medium body. Spicy and slightly truffly raspberry and dark cherry greet on the nose. A highly perfumed infusion of sour cherry adds further aromatic complexity. The palate has a sublime silky feel with tannins that glisten and fruit that delivers with vibrancy and energy. Beautiful focused precise and long finish. Really...

Great Southern

Pinot Noir

This is a pinot that is simply deliciously drinkable from the get-go. Aromas of black cherry and lightly roasted coffee with a dark chocolate coating emerge. The medium bodied palate offers succulent supple fruit flavours balanced by a fine chalky acidity sustaining a long finish. A fine thread of tannins adds structural integrity.

Great Southern

Pinot Noir

From the first take on the nose this is impressive. Nelson gets the fruit from Denmark. The nose bursts open with a wild ride of cherry, spices and dark plum. Then the palate. This is a structured and almost robust wine, but of course it’s pinot so there is refinement and elegance as it gathers and releases the palate through...

Great Southern

Pinot Noir

A fragrant and light bodied pinot designed for immediate drinking. The nose reveals subtle cherry and spicy characters while the palate is soft and warm with lifted and bright red fruits. The oak is well managed and the tannins fine infused.