This Pinot Noir balances dense red and dark berry characters with complex earth and spice. Earthy savouriness, soft red fruit & chalky tannins.

The east facing slopes of the Moorabool Valley near Geelong have long been recognised as some of the best areas of growing Pinot Noir in Victoria. This close-planted 'French' block of the Strathmore Vineyard was one of the first plantings around Geelong in the early 1980s (all Geelong vines were removed in the 1870s due to a Phylloxera infestation). A wet Spring and mild Summer gave the perfect conditions for this old block of Pinot Noir to shine and we were lucky enough to harvest this fruit with full flavour and relatively low sugar.

We knew at harvest that this was a special batch of fruit, and that it demanded the Full Noise treatment. So we left 30% of the whole bunches in open fermenters and destemmed the rest on top. This allowed for added complexity through some carbonic maceration and through the extraction of the characters of the stems as well as the fruit in the ferment. We handled the ferments gently so as not to over extract anything and eventually pressed the wine to French oak barriques, with 30% new oak for enhanced complexity again. The wine matured in the barrels for 15 months before being bottled and has matured in the bottles since then.

The result is a wine of great depth. Subtle layers of aroma include red and dark berries and forest floor that give way to a palate harmoniously balancing fruit, spice, earth and dried herbs, with a velvety texture that lingers longingly. Dim the lights, turn up the stereo and drift away to wine nerd heaven.

ABOUT FULL NOISE: Sometimes the stars align to create a batch of fruit that's really exceptional. So we created a new range - Full Noise - for a small handful of wines made from the best fruit of the season, and given a bit more new oak and time in the barrel.

Hand picked. Foot stomped. Wild ferment. 30% whole bunch.
Range: Full Noise
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Strathmore, Moorabool Valley
13% / 7.7 std drinks

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