2023 Swinging Bridge Hill Park Pinot Noir, Orange

Careful – swoon and you’ll miss this wine, but swoon you most likely will. A sexy hint of reduction leads to rosella, strawberry gum and wild raspberries. Musk strawberries, fresh bay leaf and grated nutmeg. Queen Garnet plums, pepperberry and white pepper. Tannins are sandy but chiselled, and subtle oak influence adds the staying power for this wine to age gracefully. A wine of real pedigree.

96 points Shanteh Wale winecompanion.com.au

Swinging Bridge Hill Park Pinot Noir is a beautiful and highly detailed expression of Orange, a region that sits high on the slopes of the extinct volcano Mount Canobolas in central west New South Wales. The Hill Park vineyard is one of the highest and coolest Pinot Noir sites in Australia, planted on windswept ridges at over eight hundred and fifty metres above sea level. Here, ancient volcanic basalt mixed with iron rich clay gives the vines low vigour and naturally small berries, building Pinot Noir with concentration, perfume and a distinctive mineral edge. Cold nights preserve acidity while the intense sunshine of the high plateau allows the fruit to ripen slowly and evenly, creating a style that feels much closer to Burgundy or Central Otago than to warmer Australian regions. Swinging Bridge, a family owned winery, has become a benchmark for Orange, with a strong focus on single vineyard wines that capture the personality of each site rather than a house style.

The wine pours a bright, translucent ruby, opening with lifted aromas of wild strawberry, red cherry, cranberry and rose petal, followed by subtle notes of clove, dried herbs and a faint earthy, flinty character that reflects the volcanic soils. On the palate it is silky and finely structured, layering juicy red fruits with savoury forest floor and gentle spice, supported by fine, chalky tannins and a line of natural acidity that gives the wine its elegance and length. It feels light on its feet yet deeply flavoured, making it a beautiful partner for roast duck, grilled salmon, mushroom risotto and herb roasted chicken. With time in the cellar it will continue to evolve for seven to ten years, developing more truffle, dried flower and spice complexity while retaining its bright Orange freshness.