2024 Shaw + Smith Pinot Noir, Adelaide Hills

Shaw + Smith reliably makes supple, fruit-forward Adelaide Hills pinot noir, and that statement rings true here. It's a fresh and fruity expression, quite straightforward and ripe but with dark cherry, raspberry and cranberry fruit on the go. It feels attractive in its primary, pretty representation of the variety. Tannin is soft, the finish a little gummy, but overall it's a charming red that delivers good pinosity and a little pizzazz.

93 points Mike Bennie winecompanion.com.au

Deep, bold red-purple colour, dark for an Aussie pinot, with spicy, smoky dark-cherry to plum aromas, the palate likewise deep in dark cherry to blackberry flavours, backed by judicious oak and ample tannins which lend the wine gravitas and grip. A pinot for heartier foods, which will also take some age to its advantage. 02 Jun 2025
2026–2039

93 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com

Shaw + Smith Pinot Noir from the Adelaide Hills is a refined, cool climate expression that helped redefine the region’s reputation for elegant, site driven Pinot. The winery was founded in 1989 by cousins Michael Hill Smith MW and Martin Shaw, with a clear ambition to make wines of restraint, longevity and regional clarity. Today, the wines are shaped under the leadership of chief winemaker Adam Wadewitz, whose precise, detail focused approach has elevated Shaw + Smith into the top tier of Australian Pinot Noir producers. Fruit for this wine is sourced from high altitude vineyards across the Adelaide Hills, where cold nights, long growing seasons and low yielding soils deliver fragrance, natural acidity and fine tannin structure.

The vineyards sit between 400 and 500 metres above sea level, planted on a mix of sandy loams, clay and shale. These cooler conditions slow ripening and preserve aromatic purity, allowing Pinot Noir to develop complexity without weight. Wadewitz works closely with growers to pick at optimal balance, favouring freshness and tension over ripeness. In the winery, the approach is restrained and thoughtful. Fermentation is carried out with indigenous yeasts, a portion of whole bunches is included for spice and structure, and the wine is matured in fine French oak with a light touch, ensuring the vineyard expression remains front and centre.

Aromatically the wine is lifted and finely detailed. Red cherry, wild strawberry and raspberry sit at the core, layered with rose petal, cranberry and subtle whole bunch spice. Beneath the fruit lies a savoury Adelaide Hills signature of forest floor, dried herbs and gentle earthiness. With air, hints of orange peel, soft oak and dried flowers add further nuance without heaviness.

The palate is silky, precise and beautifully balanced. Bright red fruits flow across fine, chalk dust tannins that give shape without firmness, while lively natural acidity carries the wine long and clean. Flavours of cherry skin, redcurrant and pomegranate unfold gradually, finishing with a savoury mineral edge and lingering spice. It is immediately appealing but also built to age, with five to eight years bringing more depth, truffle and autumnal complexity.

An excellent partner for roast duck, mushroom dishes, chargrilled salmon, chicken with herbs or soft, earthy cheeses. Shaw + Smith Pinot Noir is a benchmark Adelaide Hills style, elegant, assured and a clear reflection of Adam Wadewitz’s steady, site focused winemaking philosophy.