Winemaker Notes
Displaying complex aromas of black forest cake, strawberries, cherries with hints of tarragon. The palate is seamless yet enduring. Red currants, cherries and enticing gamey characters swirl within layers of mushroom, cranberry, spice and notes of fresh herbs. The French oak adds ample but delicate tannins delivering a generous delightful length, toasted cedar nuances tied together with refreshing natural acidity.
Savor on its own or enjoy as an outstanding accompaniment to duck or game dishes, alternatively stuffed wild mushrooms as a vegetarian option.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Solid proprietary pinot, beautifully combining the use of clones with judicious oak handling and the sensitive inclusion of whole bunches. The bunchy spice melds with the red fruit, cinnamon, sandalwood and clove scents. Fine sappy length. At this price, hard to find better.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
A narrow band of hills and valleys east of the city of Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills region is a diverse landscape featuring a variety of microclimates. In general it is moderate with high-altitude areas cooler and wetter compared to its warmer, lower areas.
Piccadilly Valley, the part of Adelaide Hills closest to the city, was first staked out by a grower named Brian Croser, in the 1970s for a cool spot to grow Chardonnay, then uncommon in Australia. Today a good amount of the Chardonnay goes to winemakers outside of the region.
Producers here experiment with other cool-climate loving aromatic varieties like Pinot Gris, Viognier and Riesling. Charming sparkling wine is also possible. On its north side, lower, west-facing slopes make full-bodied Shiraz.