September 2022 Releases: Hochkirch Maximus 2019 Pinot Noir $55 & Scout Central Otago 2021 Pinot Noir $39

This month we have selected two contrasting wines from two very different parts of the world. One wine is from Tarrington, in the far west of Victoria, and our second wine is from Central Otago in New Zealand. We have chosen these two wines because they are two of the very best wines we have tasted recently, and they are two great examples of the diversity Pinot Noir can produce from different regions and different winemakers.
We hope you enjoy them both, but no doubt you will all have a favourite.
Cheers Patrick

Hochkirch Maximus 2019 Pinot Noir $55

John & Jennifer Nagorcka’s family vineyard (20 acres) is part of a larger integrated Demeter certified mixed Biodynamic farm of 700 acres. The vineyard is close planted at  5,000-6000 vines/Ha on a North facing slope, 250m above sea level near Tarrington in southwest Victoria.

Situated about 3.5 hours drive West of Melbourne, at the foothills of the Grampians is the town of Tarrington, formerly known by the name given to it by its German settlers, Hochkirch. A mere 70km north of the cold Southern coast of Western Victoria this Western neck of the Henty sees gently undulating hills, cold breezes and the perfect conditions for cool climate farming.

Tasting notes: Vibrant ruby red colour, and delightful aromas of violets, red roses and juicy red cherries. Like the colour, the palate is vibrant, it literally bursts with crunchy red cherry and cranberry fruit. The fruit is perfectly balance with taught acidity and velour like fine tannins. This is a top class wine, it is drinking well now, and will for many years if it is well cellared.

Scout Central Otago 2021 Pinot Noir $39

Scout Wines philosophy:

To observe, search, and find a new way forward.
Our wines are modern, respectful to variety and region but produced with an aim to push the boundaries of traditional style.

This wine is a blend of two sites - the Muirkirk vineyard in Bannockburn (situated on Felton Road) has a rich, loamy-based soil. The second site is the Van Der Mark vineyard in Bendigo. Located on the Bendigo terrace at 400m elevation, it is a stony, schist-based soil with a northerly aspect. The soil is poor and tough resulting in the vines producing small amounts of fruit with great concentration, spice flavour and a fine tannin profile.

The fruit was hand-picked and wild fermented with 70% and 30% whole-bunch for the Bannockburn and Bendigo sites respectively. The ferments were pumped over and only plunged three times each day to avoid over-extraction in a small berry year like 2021. The Bannockburn wine was pressed after 14 days for brightness and energy, while the Bendigo wine was left for 30 days to develop those fine, spicy tannins. Pressed and aged in old French oak barriques and puncheons.

Tasting notes: Deep ruby red colour, followed by rich red & dark berry aromas. The palate exhibits rich, ripe raspberry and plum flavours with lively acidity, and finishes with fine, firm tannins. This is not a typical expression of Central Otago Pinot Noir. The wine has great vibrancy, fruit purity, and is very well balanced. It drinks well now, and has great potential to develop and evolve in the cellar.