2025 Red Claw Pinot Noir Half Bottle 375mL, Mornington Peninsula

Please note - this is the 375mL size of this wine (half bottle)

It’s a burst of all things red fruit – a bountiful scoop of wild strawberry and cranberry, with red plum and plenty of yummy red cherries to round out the lip-smacking basket of delicious goodies. While there are some vanilla pods and cedar peeking through, the stage belongs to the showy gamut of fruit. And the palate reaffirms the exact same thing, with a lovely cool creaminess, like a cherry sherbet, a feathery texture, lots of vibrancy, a moreish quality, and it’s thoroughly appetite-inducing. Drink to 2030.

93+ points Lisa Cardelli for Wine Pilot, August 2026

An appealing, juicy offering this vintage, with a core of cherry-accented fruit, pippy and spicy. Quite tangy, too, thanks to the acidity and chinotto/blood orange flavours, with the palate unfurling to medium bodied, layered with plush tannins and some grip to the finish. Overall, very satisfying. Drink to 2034.

93 points Jane Faulkner for Halliday Wine Companion, May 2026

Medium-deep colour and a reserved but fragrant aroma suggesting smoky bacon, cherry and raspberry, while the palate is quite intense and gently sappy with some fresh herb notes and a touch of grip in the tannins. Very good depth of flavour for the price. Drink to 2035.

90 points Huon Hooke for The Real Review, August 2026

From the cool maritime vineyards of the Mornington Peninsula, Red Claw Pinot Noir offers a vibrant and approachable expression of one of Australia’s most exciting Pinot Noir regions. Crafted under the guidance of the team at Yabby Lake, a producer renowned for its single vineyard precision and regional understanding, Red Claw focuses on drinkability without sacrificing authenticity. Ocean breezes, rolling hills and diverse soils allow the fruit to ripen slowly, building aromatic lift and supple structure.

A bright ruby crimson shimmers in the glass with youthful charm. Aromas open with wild strawberry, red cherry and raspberry layered with hints of rose petal, clove spice and a gentle earthy nuance. There is an inviting freshness to the bouquet that captures the easygoing elegance of Mornington Pinot.

The palate is silky and medium bodied, delivering juicy red berry fruit, cranberry and subtle savoury detail framed by soft tannins and lively acidity. Notes of dried herbs and a faint mineral thread carry through the smooth, refreshing finish, making the wine wonderfully food friendly and immediately appealing. Best enjoyed over the next four to six years while its bright fruit and balance remain at their peak.

Think roast chicken with thyme and crispy skin, grilled salmon with lemon, mushroom risotto or charcuterie spread across a bustling table. A bit of The War on Drugs or early Crowded House drifting through the speakers, glasses clinking, the evening unfolding in that relaxed Peninsula way where one bottle somehow turns into two.