Ranked #2 of 25 2013 Pinot Noir from Geelong
96/100
5 Stars
Huon Hooke
Full red colour with a hint of purple in the rim; restrained but very appealing bouquet of red fruits, spices and dried herbs. It's rich and fruit-sweet on the palate, with quite high acidity adding zest and verve to the mouthfeel. This has a bit more whole-bunch character than the Farrside. Very long finish, a touch firmer in structure than the '13 Farrside, with a little more acid.
Tasted: 30/06/2015
Drink: 2016 to 2028
97 Points James Halliday
The vineyard was planted in '94 to clones 114 and 115, believed to have mutated into a single 'Sangreal' clone. Always made with 50-70% whole bunches, and 60-70% new oak maturation for 18 months. Another very different iteration of pinot, the multifaceted bouquet with both red and black fruits in play, the same perfumed vehicle as Farr Rising, the palate of remarkable elegance and finesse, with exactly the right balance between pure pinot fruit flavours and structure ex the whole bunches. Drink to 2028.
Source: James Halliday. March, 2015