Ranked #23 of 76 2012 Pinot Noir from Yarra Valley
91/100
4 Stars
Huon Hooke
Medium to full red colour with a faint purple residue. Sulfidic bouquet, quite animal, really, making it hard for the fruit to express itself. A full-bodied pinot with a big volume of fruit and lots of guts, the finish swells with tannin and alcohol. This needs some air, and possibly some age, as the bouquet is compromised at present. After extended airing, it improved greatly. A smoky, meaty charcuterie aroma leads into a full, rich, round palate with abundant smooth, supple tannins and a lingering, warm finish.
Tasted: 02/11/2013
Drink: 2013 to 2020
88 Points Robert Parker
Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2012 Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir has a slightly reduced nose to begin that gives way to notes of tar, game and fertile earth over a core of black cherries and black berries plus a whiff of anise. Light to medium-bodied, it is a little dilute on the palate, with delicate red and black fruit flavors supported by a low level of chewy, slightly astringent tannins on a medium to long, earthy finish. Drink it now to 2017+.
Source: Robert Parker (eRobertParker.com) by Lisa Perrotti-Brown. January, 2013