The Tete de Cuvée is always released a year after the estate pinot from the same vintage. So one could say that the pinot is the preview to the Tete. I like to look at it like that. To give this release some context, the 2017 Pinot was a fine a silky affair, with Pemberton fruit that straddled a Tassie/Yarra fence in terms of supple and juicy, pink fruit characters. Needless to say, incredibly drinkable, delicious and much loved. The Tete is without fail, richer (owing to lower yielding vines), more brooding and darker in colour. This release is no exception. Here there is charcuterie, black olive and charry spice around the edges of the red cherry fruit, the depth and complexity on the palate telling us we’re in serious pinot territory.
The length, as ever, pulls away through the finish and gallops like a thoroughbred on Melbourne Cup day. I hope you’re decanting your Tete de Cuvee - the young ones like several hours prior to serving, you won’t regret it.