GRUYERE HILL Yarra Valley Pinot Noir
Grapes for this Pinot Noir were grown in the cool climate in Gruyere, Yarra Valley. Aromas and favours of blackberry, liquorice and cherry with hints of smoky paprika. Best enjoyed with fresh charcuterie
Thousand Candles Single Vineyard Pinot Noir
The nose displays aromas of raspberry and herbs with an attractive earthiness. The palate shows red berries, pomegranate and some lovely forest floor characters. A fine tannin profile and bright natural acid lift provide great depth and structure to the plate. The beautiful acidity suggests this.
Yarra Yering Carrodus Pinot Noir
Zonzo Estate
A beautiful Pinot with a bouquet of juicy plum fruits, berries and spice with very gentle notes of dried thyme.
Pacha Mama Pinot Noir
This wine is made with Pinot Noir fruit grown on some spectacular vineyard sites in the Yarra Valley, comprising predominantly MV6 clone, with some 114 and 115. Pacha Mama use minimal additives or fining and aim to let the fruit shine through rather than clobbering all over it with heavy oak use or commercial wine-making techniques. Flavours of sour cherry and wild strawberries carry on to the palate complexed by a savoury spice and intriguing earthiness that lingers long after the last mouthful.
Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir
Produced from one of the Top 100 Wineries in the World the Giant Steps Pinot Noir is complex with terrific varietal character. With a minimalist approach to winemaking this Yarra Valley favourite oozes elegance and drinkability. Giant Steps is an independent winery in Healesville, Victoria, owned by Phil Sexton. Phil first made his name in establishing some noted micro-breweries, such as Little Creatures, and later established Devils Lair in Margaret River. First released in 2001, Giant Steps focuses exclusively on the distinctive expression of single vineyard sites in the Yarra Valley. Grapes are drawn from estate and leased vineyards, as well as a selection of long-term contracted vineyards. Giant Steps wines are produced fastidiously in the vineyard and vinified with minimal intervention so that each is a faithful expression of site, vintage and culture. Giant Steps focuses on restrained Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and cool climate Cabernet/Merlot blends. These single vineyard wines are sourced from five different vineyards throughout the Yarra, so each is a fingerprint of location and site personality. The name Giant Steps comes in part from Phils love for jazz and John Coltranes album of that same name, and in part due the Giant Step Phil took in relocating with his family from Margaret River to the Yarra Valley. Giant Steps wines are always exclusively single vineyard Yarra Valley wines. They are hand made in small batches using gravity flow principles. Production of the Giant Steps wines is very limited with some vineyards producing as little as 200 cases each vintage some wines are not produced each year if vintage conditions do not allow. These wines are often hard to find in retail outlets as they are mainly sold through the cellar door and through selected restaurants.
Giant Steps Wombat Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir
The 16ha Wombat Creek Vineyard at Gladysdale is the highest in the Yarra Valley, at 420m. Planted in 1988 on north-east facing slopes, it was originally intended for sparkling wines, but has been transitioned to Pinot Noir (and Chardonnay) for table wine. The underlying iron-based red volcanic soil and rock contribute to wines with a distinctive soft yet long and firm palate. MV6 clone Pinot Noir grapes are hand-picked with 20% destemmed to the base of the vat for a pied de cuve ferment. The vats were then filled with whole bunches and closed to allow a semi-carbonic maceration to occur. Some foot-stomping takes place to release more juice and extend skin-contact time. After two weeks the wine is pressed to tight-grained, 228 litre, French barriques (about 18% new) for 10 months before blending and bottling without fining or filtration.The wine is noted for its soft texture and long, well-structured palate
Jane Eyre Yarra Valley Pinot Noir
An array of blood orange, tangelo, strawberry and wild flowers here with pot pourri-like nuances that pervade the dried cherry and spiced red plum fruits. The palate has a very succulent and lithe, juicy edge that emits freshness and crunchy appeal. Very bright finish, drink now.
Giant Steps Sexton Pinot Noir
This superb Pinot Noir shows what heights can be reached when modestly priced wines are produced in outstanding vintages. Expect a red and dark cherry fragrance with a hint of spice. It's light bodied with earthy flavours of red berries delivered with finesses one of the finest producers of the 'Fronsac' appellation. Predominantly Merlot, there's supreme depth of dark fruit, together with the 'polished' structure so synonymous with the 2012 vintage.
Fetherston Fungi Pinot Noir
Sourced from a number of Yarra Valley vineyards, fermented in small batches with different treatments (carbonic maceration, partial whole-bunch and whole berry fermentations utilising optical sorting). 67% of the fruit comes from the valley floor and 33% from the Upper Yarra. The final blend equates to 15% whole bunches and 6% new oak, with the residual balance matured in French oak puncheons and barriques from 2nd to 4th fill. The wine saw four months on lees in barrel prior to bottling.