2022 Gembrook Hill JKM Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley

Medium red tinged with purple; complex and fragrant aromas of smoky charcuterie, strawberry and raspberry, with stalky/whole-bunch overtones, the palate light-medium weight and intense, texturally refined, light on its feet and delicate, with excellent balance and drinkability. An aerial style of pinot. 21 JUL 2023 Drink 2024–2033

Again more of a winemaker's wine. The intention for this wine is to explore both new viticultural and wine making techniques, while still capturing the essence of the vineyard. The viticultural technique is shoot selection - a refinement of shoot thinning which we have always used in the vineyard. This serves to open up the canopy, reducing disease risk and increasing sunlight into the canopy, while producing more intense fruit. The winemaking technique is the use of some whole bunch fermentation from our newest plantings of Pinot which was then matured in a new French hogshead. This made up a third of the wine while the rest comes from destemmed young vine fruit. There were two barrels of this, both matured in old french oak.

The result is a bold, complex, aromatic Pinot with plenty of flavour.