2015 Moss Wood Wilyabrup Pinot Noir, Margaret River

At Moss Wood emphasis is on quality, not high yields. The Australian benchmark for yield, across all varieties, is around 12 tonnes/ha. Moss Wood Pinot yield is 6.3t/ha generally. 

The 2015 Moss Wood Pinot Noir was the product of one of the wettest growing seasons with yield for the pinot at 3.64t/ha. However the quality of fruit was outstanding, as the ripening took six days longer than usual. 2015 Pinot was matured for 20 months in French oak barrels (20% of which were new). 

Winemaker’s comments:

‘As with all Moss Wood Pinot Noir wines, the 2015 has generous fruit and good balance and so can easily be enjoyed now. However, it will definitely repay those patient souls who are prepared to tuck it away in their cellars. Until the wine reaches 10 years of age, the primary red fruits will be the dominant feature but in the decade following, the classic old Pinot Noir bottle bouquet will reveal itself. This means the strawberry and cherry fruit will have a background of complexity, made up of unusual farmyard notes – earth, tar, meat and leather. 

Into its third decade, the wine will reach full maturity, such as required by the patient ones and the complex notes will be the dominant feature. A likely final ‘drink by’ date is difficult to predict but all our old Pinots continue to age well into their fourth decade and we expect the 2015 will do the same.’

96 pts – Bob Campbell (MW)

Sleek and savoury pinot noir with spice, dried herb, violet, cherry, furniture polish and nutty oak flavours. This is a supremely elegant and complex wine, with a distinctive regional/vineyard character. May be enjoyed now but will undoubtedly develop well with bottle-age Tasted 13/10/2017