If you usually drink Shiraz, I'm guesing you'd probably like the heavier style of Pinot Noir.
From Tassie, I would recommend Pinots from the East Coast such as Kelvedon, Apsley Gorge, Freycinet or Springvale.
From NZ, I like Central Otago, particularly Felton Road and Gibbston Valley.
Otherwise, there are some interesting Pinots coming out of Southern Victoria, eg Geelong, Gippsland, Mornington, Yarra, etc. Personally I quite like the Kooyong wines.
Paringa The Estate Pinot Noir. It's shit hot but it is $60. Otherwise try Stoiner, the entry level and 'Reserve' are both very good.
If you want to try some more 'funky' pinot and some that have enough guts for a Shiraz drinker try and look for Pinot from Geelong. I tried quite a few when I was down at Torquay last New Years. Bannockburn, Scotchmans Hill and Lethbridge have some stunning pinots. All really intense and powerful.
The latter had it's winemakers nominated for the 'the winemaker of the year award' in the Gourmet Traveller Wine last edition. On top of that Lethbridge is also a winery that is fully biodynamic.
Whatever your thoughts are on the hippes and their cow horns the vino speaks for itself.
Hey if you find the Scotchmans Hill anywhere don't be shy of grabbing a shiraz from them too. It was the wine on pour at the wedding I was down there for. Mate it was a big big wine, any SA red lover would be gobsmacked.
Pinot?
No one drinks that stuff, its like dancing with your sister, sure its fun but it will never pay off.
But if you did have to drink Pinot and you wanted some suggestions for here in Oz and NZ I will lay down a couple I like. Best to do it by region I think.
For
Ashton Hills. Please for the love of god believe me about this. Stephen George is one of the great artists of Australian wine making and every thing this gentleman makes turns to gold. His Reserve is unarguably the best PN from SA.
Grosset. Always a great winemaker can make good wine even from varieties grown in areas not overly suited to them. Usually quite plump and juicy with big berry fruit characters but handled very well, as you would expect from mr Grosset.
For WA I would say there are none, if there is one exception is from the Pannel family at their Pemberton Winery Picardy.
Bindi. Come on, be serious, if you can find a better Pinot producer in Oz who can regularly deliver Pinots of such style and grace they are few and far between. If you drink PN and live in
Main Ridge Estate. I think once called this guy the Henri Jayer of Aussie Pinot (I may have been drunk as hell and feeling argumentative, but I will stand by my words). He is one of the most thoughtful and honest wine makers I know. His top wine, the half acre, comes from a half acre of land that produces what is arguably my favourtite Australian Pinot on a good year. Refined and pristine, a deeply profound expression of the most noble and enticing of all grapes. I cant tell you how much I love this fellas wines.
Bass Phillip. I always agonize over including this in a list like this. Phil Jones is a complete mad man. His winery is a shambles and his wine making as erratic as he is (I know I worked a vintage there). But in the end of the day his top PN, called simply the reserve, is the best and most long lived PN in
This is a wine of real presence and richness that has the ability to improve over a decade or so easily on a good vintage.
This recommendation is definitely for his top two or three wines though, his lesser wines are just that, lesser. If you can track down a bottle of the reserve from a good vintage and you can find the money for it then do it, likely you will never see another PN of its style produced here in Oz.
Mount Mary. Eh, what else is there to say, this is probably my favourite Victorian winery and every thing they do rocks my socks.
Bannokburn/By Farr. Yes his PNs are good, yes he is a grumpy old bugger, yes they are occasionally a little dirty but in general you wont be disappointed.
To clarify,
Ok, that is the legends of Vic covered but there is a swag of others that are worth looking in to.
Bill Downie. Something about making PN turns people into weirdo’s. Any way Bill makes wicked, wicked Pinot. He helped reform De Bortoli and transform their PNs into a force to be reckoned with and is now making his own label which consists of three wines from different regions. A Yarra, Mornington and recently a Gippsland wine. Most definitely worth trying.
Stonier. Mornington is generally not my favourite region for PN, with obviously at least one exception with Main Ridge. But these guys consistently make very good wines and their windmill block PN can be very good indeed.
Tom Carson. Responsible for the success of Yering Station Tom has now moved to
There are plenty more from Vic, try: Yarra Yering, Tomboy Hill, Moorooduc, Kooyong and Port Phillip, Curly flat, Curlewis, Scorpo, Ten Minutes by Tractor, De Bortoli. PHI, Wantirna Estate (I probably should have included this in my list of legends, but too late now, I need a beer and to put my lap top away).
Stefano Lubiana. His PNs can be graceful and structured but usually deliver some power as well. Recently he released a top run PN called the Sasso, it was fantastic.
Domain A. While better known for their Cab Sauv these guys also pull off a very good PN from a good vintage.
Frogmore Creek. Savoury and intense PN (though I haven’t tried enough to generalize too much). Classy stuff and definitely one to keep an eye on.
Dalrymple. Used to be one of my fav picks for the apple isle, just changed hands and is now owned by one of the big boys. I have tried one wine since the new guys took control and it was good. I hope it stays that way.
Meures. When you can find it and when the weather has been kind his PN, called D'Meure, is sensational.
Freycinet. Its not really a Tassie spiel if I don't include these guys. They set the bar and they set it bloody high.
Ok, hows that for a list?
Tassie has a shit load more to offer but like I said before I need a beer and to turn this thing off. Besides, Pinot is a girls drink any way ;-)
Mountford Estate, Waipara... if you can find some. The winemaker CP Lin is a good friend and even I can't get any of his pinot noir. You can check out a tasting with Gary Vaynerchuck. The 'Gradient' is a particular block of their pinot which is on an extremely steep slope... even harder to find.
Looks like you've got a quite some list to work off– good luck!
Woodgate 2006 Pinot Noir - Manjimup WA
Lost Lake SV Barrel Select Pinot Noir - Pemberton
Bascand Pinot Noir - New Zealand
These are all awesome, and only available direct from Cellar Doors a selection of white table cloth restautrants in Sydney and of course us... www.Littledale.com.au
ummm... well given the comprehensive Aus listings, better give you some Kiwi suggestions:
Martinborough: Escarpment, Shubert, Martinborough Vineyards, Ata Rangi
Marlborough: Villa Maria Cellar Selection and/or Reserve (wins Aus National Wine Show Trohpy lots), Montata Terraces, Clos Henri, Staete Landt, Churton, Blind River (won trophy for best wine at recent Boutique Wine Awards in Syndey)..so many more
Central Otago: Carrick, Felotn Road, Quartz Reef, Rippon, Bald Hills, Wooing Tree, Amisfield, Hawkeshead
Waipara: Bell Hill (but v hard to find), Pegasus Bay, Black Estate,
Nelson: Neudorf, Siefried, Te Mania
And if you are a Shiraz man looking to find a touch of elegance with weight, I suggest you try a Hawke's Bay or Waiheke Island 'Syrah' - French for Shiraz. Why French? Cause they taste more like wines from the Rhone Valley. But clean. And absolutely delicious.
Try: Villa Maria Cellar Selection, Bilancia, Trinity Hill, - they're all pretty damn good. Shriraz peeper and spice with Pinot-like silky textures. The sleeping giant of NZ wine.
Howdy Roscoe... how's it with the Prince then?
Are you and the Prince guys coming to the New Release tasting next Monday in Melbourne - the aforementioned Mountford PN will be there to taste, plus Peg Bay, Quatz Reef Bendigo Vineyard, Mount Diff, and a heap of other good things....
Strictly trade only I'm afriad but all wine trade welcome. see nzwineevents.com.au for more details
I'd like to recommend a few ;
Central Otago ;
Felton Rd B3 P/N - only avli. to their mail order
Felton Rd Cornish Point
Chard Farm Finla Mor , Tiger , Viper & River Run
Rockburn
Remarkable VY
Bald Hills
Mt Difficulty
Bannock Brae
Rippon
Valli
Gibbston Valley
Marlborough/Nelson ( a bit lighter )
Villa Maria Resv. & all their single vineyard
Saint Claire Omaka Resv. & all their single vineyard
Bouldervines
Nautilus 4 barriques
Neudorf.
Really the list goes on...If you would like me to orginse any wine sent direct to your door just send me a message for a quote . We ship NZ wine World Wide .
Just wondering if any BoozeMonkeys can recommend some seriously good Pinot Noirs from ANZ. I'm a shiraz drinker so haven't really tried any PNs so thought I would get some tips via this.
Rgds JKJ
the question is why Jayjay? when you get used to driving a Ferrari, sitting in a Bently is not that exciting.
