Description

The 2024 Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir leads with its whole-bunch characters: scraped orange skin, chinotto, bitter clove, dark chocolate and star anise. In the mouth, the whole bunches serve to dry out the wine and compound the tannins, but what it does there, it balances by also contributing spice and capaciousness. In the end, this component pales in comparison to the flow of seamless fruit, which makes a significant impact. This is a powerful, lingering wine of great length and complexity. Time will smooth out the bunching tannins through the finish no doubt. 13.3% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025-2039. 96 points Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

From the Applejack vineyard, planted on grey clay soils at 300m in Gladysdale in ’97 by Ray Guerin. 40% whole bunches and 40% less wine in ’24. Darkly fruited and more intense than the ’23 with aromas of wild blackberry, raspberry, briar, and just a hint of sous bois. On the palate, this is as concentrated and mouth-filling as the bouquet suggests it will be, culminating with succulent, grippy tannins on the long, tapering finish. It’s a touch more ‘sauvage’ and a little less floral than normal but, even in this warmer vintage, one of Australia’s most celebrated pinot noirs is in impressive form. Drink 2025 – 2032. 98 Points Philip Rich – Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion