January 2022 Releases: Bannockburn 2019 Pinot Noir $67 & Brown Magpie Estate 2016 Pinot Nir $38

Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2019 $67

The 2019 was drawn from a range of blocks (planted in 1976, 1997 and 2007), all on soils of volcanic loam and dark clay over a limestone base, and with a wide variety of clones (mainly MV6 with a smattering of the Dijon or Bernard clones 114, 115 and 777). All the fruit was destemmed and fermented with indigenous yeast, with just 20% whole bunches and 20% carbonic maceration. Élevage played out for 10 months, primarily in Tronçais hogsheads (25% new). Under Matt Holmes, the Pinot Noir style is now a little less lavish than that of his predecessors, now you will find impressively pure flavours derived from a more reticent use of whole bunches and the earlier bottling regime. Picked before the late-February heatwave, Holmes is justifiably delighted with what was a tremendous year for Bannockburn Pinots. With its loaded mix of red and black fruits, tobacco spices and just enough aromatic whole-bunch notes, this is a spicy, supple and long Pinot of true weight. It finishes with ripe and velvety, yet persistent, tannin. Class. Medium red colour with tints of purple and black, the bouquet char-oaky, smoky, stemmy and bunchy, and more appealing than that may sound. The palate is rich and full, with loads of detail and nuance, heaps of interest, the palate full and rich, round and very fruit-sweet at the core, with Campari, balsamic herbs--the full whole-bunch deal. Long finish, too. A satisfying pinot. Good value, too. 96 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review Primarily clone MV6 planted in 1976; 20% whole bunch, matured in Troncais hogsheads (25% new) for 10 months. Bright colour; the bouquet fragrant to the point of perfumed: violets, rose petals, earth and forest floor, dark cherry/berry fruit at the core; long, lingering savoury finish. 97 points, James Halliday, The Weekend Australian

Brown Magpie Estate Pinot Noir 2016 $38

Brown Magpie Wines is a single vineyard estate in the Geelong region of Victoria. It has 9 hectares of vines, which were planted in 2001 and 2002. It has four clones of Pinot Noir planted; MV6, 777,114 & 115. The vineyard is owned and managed by Shane & Loretta Breheny, and the winemaker is Daniel Greene. The planning of Brown Magpie Wines started in 1998.Through Shane’s love of fine wine and Loretta’s love of viticulture, this venture was born. The property they selected is ideal for the purpose. It consists of 20 hectares on a gentle, north facing slope: the cypress trees, planted on the western and southern borders, provide a warm, sheltered site. Situated in Modewarre, which is just a stone’s throw from Moriac, and just a few kilometres from Geelong, it is in the hinterland of the Surf Coast and the Great Ocean Road. The name comes from the rare brown and white magpies that live on the site. Wine was grown in the Geelong region from the earliest colonial days. Vines planted by Swiss settlers quickly created Victoria’s largest grape growing region, and one of the largest in the nation. However, in the late 1800’s, as a result of an outbreak of Phylloxera (a pest that attacks the vine roots) all vines from the Geelong region had to be destroyed. Tasting notes: Brown Magpie Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016 Colour: Medium deep red and purple, in clear condition Aromas: complex, multilayered bouquet of all the red fruits, spice, treacle and white truffle, with a hint of violets, red rose and anise at the end. Palate: A long soft palate of plums, blackberries and strawberries, with fine grained tannins and charry oak flavours from the Taransaud French oak barrels the wine is matured in.