2021 Best's Great Western Old Vine Pinot Meunier, Great Western

Hand-picked fruit fermented in small, open-top fermenter with 25% whole bunches, basket pressed to French barriques (25% new), matured 8 months in oak. Sourced from the original 1868 plantings of pinot meunier. Prepare yourself for an exquisite beauty of a wine. It enjoys an effortless purity of fruit; from aroma to palate there's a delicacy of concentrated red berries, pomegranate, violet, dusty earth, underbrush and dried herbs. Superfine across the palate, almost sinewy at this early stage, but supported by firm, focused tannins for a lot more time in bottle. A lot more.

96 points, Jeni Port Halliday Wine Companion

Pinot Meunier is rarely seen as a standalone red in Australia, which makes this old vine release from Best’s all the more compelling. Drawn from historic plantings in Great Western, some dating back decades, the Thomson family treats this variety with the same care as their Shiraz, showing just how expressive and characterful it can be outside its usual role in sparkling wine.

The 2021 vintage brings brightness and charm with a subtle savoury twist. Aromatics are lifted and inviting, red cherry, cranberry and wild strawberry, with a gentle floral note and a touch of spice. There is an earthy, slightly herbal edge too, giving the wine more depth than its light colour might suggest.

On the palate it sits in that beautiful middle ground, light to medium bodied with silky tannins and a line of fresh acidity that keeps everything lively. The fruit is vibrant and crunchy, moving into a lightly savoury, gently spiced finish with a soft mineral edge.

Winemaking is handled with a light touch, allowing the delicacy of the variety to shine while building just enough structure to carry the wine. The result is something a little different, playful but still serious enough to hold attention.

This is a great wine to have fun with at the table. Charcuterie, roast chicken or grilled pork all work well, but it also shines with more adventurous dishes like duck tacos, crispy skin salmon with herbs, or even a lightly spiced sausage. For vegetarian options, try roasted pumpkin with dukkah, mushroom dumplings or a tomato and lentil dish with fresh herbs.

Serve it slightly chilled and enjoy its freshness and energy while young, it is all about vibrancy, texture and that slightly wild edge that makes Pinot Meunier so interesting.