You won’t encounter a lot of Pinot Noir on The Granite Belt, there simply isn’t much planted, however the grace and the grit of this grape in an on again off again wet veraison has truly impressed me. Must have impressed Peter McGlashan as well as this pinot has suddenly made it to a WYP label status – look out!
Red cherry, strawberry and autumnal colour tones glisten from this wine.
An interesting bouquet lifts sour red cherries, mineral earth, a little fresh strawberry, some cured meat, and ground black pepper in a long wafted eloquent fragrant flow.
This is quite a savoury/sour rendition of Pinot Noir, I’d suspect that in a blind line up some people would call Sangiovese. Red and darker cherries sway and swagger along your palate with some genuine sour/savoury attitude, a mid palate cured meat presence reminiscent of bacon sausage introduces itself with some politeness but not overly so, red raspberry lollies create a succulent textural presence, the acid is balanced with the fruit power making fresh flavours dance with just enough boost and the mouthfeel is a lovely silken caress.
The real hallmark of this wine though is it’s beautiful earthy/mineral flavours – earth and freshly crushed granite combine with some mineral saltiness in an inspired relationship with the fruit which adds a complexity of palatal experience not often encountered in pinot noir. This is a truly lovely pinot noir, elegance and complexity combine to inspire your senses. Congratulations Peter McGlashan and Ridgemill Estate, served blind but told that this is Pinot Noir I would never have picked it as Granite Belt, although that earthy/minerally footprint would have made me wonder.
Tasted: Sunday 14th August, 2022 without food and then with over several hours.
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $40
Suggested Drinking Window: 2022 – 2029
Winemaker: Peter McGlashan
Fruit Source: Sirromet Seven Scenes Vineyard, Ballandean
Oak: Old French
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