Victoria’s Best Pinot Noir Producers - New video here (& text below):
Among the varieties of red wine commonly found in Australia, Pinot Noir must be the most divisive, and we sort of understand why! The Pinot Noir grape can evolve into a dizzying array of different directions and final taste outcomes. At its best, Pinot Noir cannot be beaten for the intricacy and glory of its rustic flavours, but at worst, it can taste a bit like mud water. And in truth, there is plenty of bad to mediocre Pinot around. So, all the more reason to highlight Victoria's best Pinot Noir producers today.
We believe Victoria produces Australia’s best Pinot Noir overall (of course, there are some amazing Pinots in TAS as well as the Adelaide Hills), and you’ll find more here than any other state. Major producing regions include Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, Macedon Ranges, Geelong & surrounds, and Beechworth. The following are the best of the best across these Victorian regions:
* Curly Flat in Macedon makes one of Australia's best overall representations of what peak Pinot Noir is supposed to taste like. Curly Flat always captures the most pristine elements of elevated fruit and earthy complexity - the hallmark flavours of Pinot. An Australian Pinot Noir icon, Curly Flat is a fantastic place to begin your exploration of this mercurial varietal!
* Over in the Yarra, Pimpernel Vineyard cranks out a few cracking Pinot Noirs. Depending on the vintage, they will produce two or three styles to showcase the different sides of this shifty grape, but across all its wines, Pimpernel really packs a punch. Pimpernel always produces wines that are both striking and polished - you can’t go wrong here.
* Northwest of Geelong, Clyde Park crafts Pinot Noirs with surgical precision. Across their range, you will be able to taste every flavour element and nuance that Pinot can offer. Working through a tasting of the four or five different styles of Pinot Clyde Park produces may be Australia's best Pinot Noir tasting experience in one spot!
* Down in the Mornington Peninsula, Moorooduc Estate was a real pioneer in wild yeast fermentation, and everything about their fierce Pinot Noirs sing loudly of the earth and climate from which they were produced. These are vibrantly alive wines that favour character and expression over all else.
* On a similar note, also in the Mornington, Paradigm Hill crafts Pinot Noirs of incredible distinction. They really showcase the Pinot's earthy and herbaceous elements. There is an enchanting wildness to these wines that always beguiles us!
* Over in Beechworth, the Ninth Mile offers a very stylistic take on Pinot Noir - and while these bigger wines aren't your granny's Pinot Noir, they are damn satisfying. As with the best Pinots, they seem to pull their magic straight out of the earth. Tasting is believing …
* Back in the Mornington, Stonier Wines is probably Australia's best value Pinot Noir producer. At $35 to 60 per bottle, you won't get as much flavour and nuance for your dollar anywhere else. Stonier’s are more subtle Pinots that emphasise the earthy and textural elements of this noble grape.
* Returning to Macedon, Hanging Rock produced probably the best Australian Pinot Noir we've ever drunk in their 2013 Jim Jim Pinot Noir. This wine had it all - shining fruit, elemental earth, and some kind of magic dust that held it all together. It's like they pulled the stars right out of the night sky and stuffed them in that bottle. (What we wouldn’t give for another!)
* And finally, back in Mornington, Yabby Lake cranks out some epic Pinot Noirs. At the top of Yabby’s range, we are talking about very serious wines that rival the best of France, so definitely give this place a look!
For many more winery reviews, check out www.winehuntersworld.com/wineries
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