2024 Helen's Hill Long Walk Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley

Helen’s Hill Long Walk Single Vineyard Pinot Noir is a deep, expressive and site-driven Yarra Valley red that has quietly built a cult following among those in the know, including Australian wine critics who consistently praise its detail, elegance and structure. Grown in the cold southern reaches of the Yarra on the slopes of the Warramate Ranges, the fruit for this wine comes from a carefully selected parcel on the estate’s Long Walk block—a gently undulating site that benefits from cool breezes, volcanic soils and excellent drainage, creating perfect conditions for growing nuanced, finely structured Pinot Noir.

The vineyard’s name, Long Walk, comes from the winding path that snakes through the estate, used for years by workers tending the vines. It’s a fitting name for a wine that rewards patience and contemplation. Only a small amount is produced each year, with a focus on vine age, clonal selection and minimal intervention in both the vineyard and winery.

Winemaker Scott McCarthy handles the fruit with sensitivity, leaning into wild fermentation with a percentage of whole bunch to add lift and savoury spice. Fermentation is carried out in small open fermenters, and the wine is gently plunged by hand before being pressed into a mix of new and old French oak barrels for maturation. The oak is used judiciously to frame, not dominate, the fruit.

In the glass, it’s all about tension and perfume. Aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry, black cherry and blood plum are layered with rose petal, sage, forest floor and a subtle note of smoky oak. There’s an earthy, mineral thread running through it, alongside fine, chalky tannins and a spine of natural acidity that gives the wine incredible length and energy. It is powerful yet poised, and while approachable now, it will continue to gain complexity over the next 8 to 12 years.

Critics regularly note the Long Walk Pinot Noir as one of the Yarra’s most exciting single vineyard expressions. James Halliday has previously singled it out for its balance of fruit weight and structural integrity, while Huon Hooke has praised its perfume, precision and aging potential. It sits comfortably among the region’s top-tier Pinots, offering both accessibility and pedigree.

This wine is exceptional with dishes like duck breast with cherry glaze, roast quail, mushroom ragù with polenta, or even soy-glazed eggplant. It’s also excellent with charcuterie and semi-hard cheeses like Comté or Gruyère.