William Downie Yarra Valley Pinot Noir (2010)

"Opened all three of William Downie’s 2010 pinot noirs in one hit, but it took me 24 hours to make my mind up on this one. Maybe 27 hours. Liked it throughout, but couldn’t make up my mind exactly how much. If I was going to buy any of these 2010s – it would be a toss-up between this and the Gippsland version. Can’t be any more definitive than that. This one has clear input from coffeed, smoky oak, which gives the fruit flavours a chicory-like tinge. I’ve been known to be tannin-focussed and it’s probably what I like most about this wine; it carries lovely curls of dry, spicy, nutty tannin. The wine has a firm, confident feel. There’s no real fan on the finish but the flavours do persist nicely. Beautiful fruit-purity throughout."   Campbell Mattinson