For all the Pinot Lovers in the House

4 October 2007

From Burgundy to the Yarra Valley, across to New Zealand and stopping off in the Adelaide Hills, we have a cross section of wines for your palate of some of the best value Pinot's currently on the market. This oh so noble varietal has become quite the in-grape of late. Currently, there are some amazing interpretations gracing our shelves that we'd like to share with you, without destroying the budget.

Starting of course with Burgundy... The 2005 vintage has already been declared as one of the all time greats, with all levels of classification sharing praise. It is said that if you couldn't make a good wine in the Cote D'Or for the '05 vintage, you shouldn't be making wine. The hype stems from entry level Bourgogne's and peaks, of course, with single Cru's but the joy can be found for those ready to start experiencing the wonderful world of Burgundy and for those who know great value when they see it.

2005 Jadot Bourgogne Rouge @ $38

2005 Jadot Cote de Nuits Villages Le Vaucrain @ $54
“A notably ripe and highly complex nose of dark berry fruit leads to rich, delicious and sweet flavors that possess plenty of volume and texture with suave tannins and only a touch of backend rusticity. This is firm but not hard and should reward 5 to 7 years of cellar time.”
Score: 88 Drink: 2011+ - Comments: Outstanding!
Allen Meadows, Burghound.

2005 Jadot Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Couchereaux @ $85
“A relatively high-toned nose of raspberry and red cherry complements perfectly the supple, suave and refined medium weight flavors that are sweet, delicious and attractively textured on the firm and mouth coating finish. This is a lovely effort and very Beaune plus the balance is solid. Recommended.”
Score: 89-92 Drink: 2013+ - Comments: Outstanding!
Allen Meadows, Burghound

2005 Faiveley Bourgogne Pinot Noir @ $25
“A very pure and ripe nose of red pinot fruit leads to delicious and precise middle weight flavors that possess good body and persistence. This is a stylish effort with real quality and the bones to improve for a few years as well.”
Score: 85-87 Drink: 2009+”
Allen Meadows, Burghound

 

 

From Burgundy we head down to Victoria, where we find the new superstar of Australian Pinot Noir and one of the best value Pinots we have seen in a long time. Hot after taking out last years Gourmet Traveller Young Wine Maker of the Year, and with his many trips to Burgundy, Bill Downie has continued on his winning ways with these new releases. This release sees a new wine added to his portfolio, with a Pinot sourced from the Mornington Penninsula.The Hoddles Creek Pinot has once again blown away the bang for buck barrier. How they can produce such lovely single estate Pinot Noir for such a good price is beyond us, but let’s not complain while we still have it so good.

2006 William Downie Mornington Pinot Noir @ $44
The 2006 Mornington Peninsula is an altogether more jovial, approachable wine. Lots of bright fruit and a lovely soft palate. It’s a little riper than the Yarra wine but not at all over done. I think this will be an interesting wine to watch over time.

2006 William Downie Yarra Valley Pinot Noir @ $44
The 2006 Yarra Valley wine continues on the path of evolution; again, the wine is more intense than the previous but it retains a similar elegance. The structure is a little more serious but is not forced or aggressive. It is, as always, very closed at the moment. Any bottles opened in the coming year must be gently decanted and left for at least 3 hours before serving.

2006 Hoddles Creek Pinot Noir @ $18
The grapes are hand-selected from their own vineyard, which is in the Upper Yarra. This region has become famous for intensely-flavored Pinot Noir grapes that produce wines with vibrant fruit character. The rows are orientated East-West to maximize sunlight, and planted on a steep hill.


Finally we finish with a couple of our old favourites... Ata Rangi was one of the pioneers in leading the New Zealand Pinot craze and is now considered to be one the leaders of the New World with this wonderful grape variety. Stephen George’s Ashton Hills wines have been a perennial favourite for us and his new Reserve impressed us so much we bought as much as physically possible.

2006 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir @ $60
“The dream vintage of 2006 has produced a lively, fruit-expressive pinot that reflects the strong Ata Rangi heritage. Selected barrel components kept separate during fermentation and maturation integrated unusually effortlessly on blending, immediately revealing a wine of deceptive power and grace - the ultimate reward for a winemaker, and the result of an exceptionally favourable season.
Sleek, ultra-supple tannins support the vivid red fruits, fresh plum-stone and ripe black cherry notes. Dark chocolate and rose scents add intrigue and promise, as do the fine savoury threads which run through the palate. Taut and restrained when young, this vibrant pinot will in time reveal its wilder, earthier side, along with voluptuous fruit spun in a shawl of silky tannins.
Sourced largely from the oldest home blocks now reaching 27 years of age, Abel (aka the ‘Ata Rangi’ clone) is predominant, but Clone 5 (or Pomard) and Dijon clones 114, 115 and 667 also play important supporting roles.”

2005 Ashton Hills Reserve Pinot Noir @ $53
The 2005 vintage was ideal with mild and dry weather for most of the growing season., the grapes come from the Vineyard block in the Adelaide Hills, this wine only uses Stephen George’s two best clones from the 12 different Pinot Noir clones throughout all his vineyards. The wine is matured in 100 % new French oak, whole bunch picking is used and the grapes are picked at 13.5˚ for a quick ferment at 32 degrees. There was only 5 barrels made which accumulates 120 cases add to that the wine has already picked up a gold medal and a trophy in the Best Pinot Noir Class 10 at the 2006 Cool Climate Wine Show, the wine is in very limited supply.

Enjoy!

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