2023 CRFT Whisson Lake Pinot Noir, Adelaide Hills

From the elevated Whisson Lake vineyard in the Adelaide Hills, this Pinot Noir reflects CRFT’s obsession with site and micro detail. The vineyard sits in a cool pocket where misty mornings and long ripening build fragrance and tension rather than weight. CRFT treats the site as a single voice, farming for precision and harvesting in small passes to capture purity. The result is Pinot that feels lifted and architectural, shaped by altitude and restraint.

Winemaking is tuned toward transparency. Gentle extraction preserves perfume and fine tannin, and careful maturation polishes the wine without smoothing away its edges. The style leans savoury and mineral, prioritising structure over plush fruit.

Bright ruby in colour, the aromas rise with sour cherry, raspberry and wild strawberry layered with rose petal, dried herbs and a faint earthy note. The palate is medium bodied and tightly framed, with red fruit wrapped in chalky tannins and bright acidity. Flavours of berry and spice carry into a long, clean finish that feels cool and precise.

It pairs beautifully with duck, pork, mushroom dishes and delicate game. Drinking impressively now with air, it will cellar comfortably for eight to ten years, gaining savoury complexity.