Pressing Matters 2014 Pinot Noir (2 bottles) $130

 Pressing Matters 2014 Pinot Noir $65

Pressing Matters Pinot Noir is one of our personal favourites, and the 2014 could be the best ever. It is from the sub region of Tea Tree, in southern Tasmania’s Coal River Valley.
Pressing Matters Pinot Noir is unique in that it has over 18 different clone and rootstock combinations in the vineyard. Each combination has subtle but noticeable differences both in growth and flavours. Some will have larger bunches, some smaller, some grow upright, some like to flop. Some rootstocks are more tolerant of drought, others are not.
Each combination has a different way of expressing the terroir of the vineyard; therefore each is picked by hand, and processed separately from the others.

The wine is then stored in 100% French oak (20% new) for 9-10 months before being bottled. This results in 18 different wines that are tasted separately, assessed/assembled, and then blended into the final wine. The tasting of the 20 odd barrels (extra wine gets put into extra barrels) is not just to have an entertaining morning. If one of the barrels is not deemed to add significantly to the final blend it will be left out and bottled separately. This ensures that the final blend for each vintage is the best wine that can be produced from the vineyard. This wine was made by Paul Smart, with assistance from Vineyard Manager Matt Connaughton, and owners Greg & Michelle Melick.

The wine is a rich and powerful Pinot Noir, reflective of the low yielding 2014 vintage. It has a dark rose red, almost black red colour, with powerful aromas of charry French Oak, rose petals and dark red fruits that leap from the glass. A vibrant palate with juicy red berry/black cherry fruit, hints of bitter chocolate, sarsaparilla and firm but ripe tannins on the finish. We have been tasting and assessing this wine over the last twelve months, it is maturing/ evolving beautifully, and we absolutely love it. I’m sure you will too.