“A stunner out of the Curly Flat stable. This is a pinot noir. Force of flavour, force of tannin, force of personality. It’s smoky, cranberried, spicy and complexity intoxicating. Cherry, undergrowth, game, garden herb and twig-like notes are all in there too. It will mature slowly, and exceptionally well.”
96 points, Campbell Mattinson
The Wine Front
“Firm pale crimson. Firm structure. Pungent and spicy. Very structured and sinewy. More framework than fruit at the moment.”
18 points, Jancis Robinson
jancisrobinson.com
“Dijon clones 114 and 115, 100% whole bunch fermentation, 3 days cold soak, 15-day ferment, macerated for 3 days, 21 days on skins, matured in French oak (38% new) for 20 months. The colour is great, the obvious French oak all compete for front of stage, but it’s a case of one in, all in. In the longer term, fruit will become the major player.”
94 points, James Halliday
Wine Companion
A different expression of Curly Flat Pinot Noir. Inspired by Domaine Dujac who employ high levels of whole bunch along with high levels of new oak.
Bouquet
The enticing fragrance of whole bunch ferment ushers in a multiplicity of secondary characters. Undergrowth, dried flowers and Christmas spices swirl both underneath and throughout the nose. A wine to be savoured and sniffed before being sipped!
Palate
A veritable wave of red cherries, milk chocolate and dried flowers flow across the palate with lively acidity. Great contrast is provided as the intersecting tannins derived from fruit, stem and French oak blur into a cohesive textural singularity. The finish lingers long on the palate, fanning out into an expansive peacock’s tail.
Cellaring
While having immediate appeal, the cellaring life will be 10-15 years. With the upper and lower registers in such supportive harmony, it shows us again that in the right conditions, high percentage whole bunch has both merit and reward.
How is this drinking now?
Medium red brick hues, red/black compote with whiffs of cedar and brambles, energetic palate offering both fruit and savoury complexity, good integration of tannin creating textural flow with the still bright acidity. Drink 2020-2027.
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