Pinot Palooza Top 10

Winemaker's Notes: Una Volta’ means ‘One Time’. In 2018 a single vineyard nestled in the Queensberry subregion halfway between Wanaka and Cromwell in Central Otago, offered its pristine fruit to us. Having both grown up in Central Otago, the bounty of the region always proves tempting, but this fruit was stunning. The nature of this fruit, being from a warm and vibrantly fruity year, presented an exceptional situation where we decided to use only the free-run portion, such was the power and density of the wine following fermentation. It is gloriously immense, with black fruit compote, warm baking spice notes and a rich...

The structure of this wine is next level. It's a meaty, minerally, undergrowth-driven pinot noir with cool cherry and herb flavours, rhubarb-like bass notes, an emphatic firmness and excellent length. The dryness of the finish here is something in itself: it's like twigs rolled in earth rolled in tobacco.96 points. Campbell Mattinson Published 20 October 2023.   The Farrside vineyard sits on a northeast-facing slope and consists of limestone topped with black volcanic soil. The vines were planted in 2001 and run east-west to protect the fruit from overexposure to the sun. The clones are a mixture of 114, 115, 777, 667 and MV6....

Robert Parker  - 2016: 92 p., 2017: 92 p.,  Vinous  - 2017: 90 p., I Vini di Veronelli  - 2017: 90 p., Winecritic  - 2017: 93 p., Falstaff  - 2017: 90 p., 2018: 90 p. James Suckling  - 2018: 93 p., 2019: 92 p., TASTING NOTES – brilliant ruby red – expressive bouquet of cherries, violets and marzipan – an abundance of cherry fruit on the palate, smooth with fine, elegant tannins

Gold Medal, Selection Mondiale, Canada, 2020. Gold Medal, International Wine Challenge, Paris, 2022. Made from 100% Pinot Noir, and harvested in October. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks for ten days and later aged in French oak barrels for 9 months. One of the few Pinot Noir 's grown in Spain from “El Cerezo” vineyard that is 30 years old. Tasting Notes Deep black cherry in color with aromas of plum and black currants, the Castillo de Monjardin Pinot Noir has delicate flavors of matured black fruits. Silky, with a long, refined finish. On the palate is very elegant, well balanced with flavors of red berries....

144 cases made. 95/100 Bob Campbell MW,  Rated Excellent & 94/100 Cameron Douglas MS, April 2021 (2019 Vintage) "Aromas of earth and stone, a silty limestone moment, dark cherry and plum, a core of savoury complexity and fruit. Varietal, intense and pure. On the palate – complex, fruity, tens, youthful and dry. Flavours of fruit and soil reflect the bouquet and are in harmony with firm tannins and acidity to provide a foundation and baseline for ageing. Oak aromas and flavours add finesse complexity. Pure, youthful, taut and complex. Best drinking from 2022 through 2028+. " Dom's notes: This is the eighth release...

60/40% upper/lower Yarra Valley fruit. Hand picked and open-fermented with 60% whole berries, the remainder whole bunches. A very bright, light–medium crimson red. A gentle waft of fresh raspberries and cranberries, with just the right amount of spice-rack spices. Delicious right out of the gate, this medium-bodied and refreshing wine will age well too. The perfect introduction to modern Yarra pinot. 96 points. Philip Rich Published 29 December 2021

James Suckling 91 points. WINERY NOTES: Made with Pinot Noir grapes, aged in oak barrels for up to 14 months. Pinot Noir is a relatively uncommon grape variety in Piedmont, but it is very important for our family's winemaking tradition. In fact, we gave this wine the name of our ancestor Leopoldo Incisa della Rocchetta, among the first ampelography and wine scientist, who lived in the 1800s. Leopoldo Incisa created at the time a vast collection of vines from other regions, experimenting with the cultivation in his own vineyards on the hills of Rocchetta Tanaro. Pinot Noir became his favorite grape and the one from which he drew the...

Tim Atkin MW 94 points. Intense, vivid opaque youthful purple-ruby appearance. The wine shows pronounced lifted floral perfume on the nose with a brooding and seductive dark berry fruit, musk, wild mushrooms and hints of iron, savoury richness and spice and an intense vibrant minerality. On the palate there are very pure Pinot fruit flavours on entry with red cherry and musk flavours coupled with fresh acidity. The wine has layered complexity with great elegance and finesse. Very fine lacy, almost powdery tannin on the finish.

This wine has been handled with kid gloves: hand picked and destemmed, 10% retained as whole bunches. Held in cold soak for three days, open fermented with thrice daily plunging; eight days on skins, then matured in French puncheons for eight months. The colour is excellent, and the abundant red fruits and superfine tannins are as good as they come. A new Hunter Valley style that challenges the idea that the Hunter is too hot for pinot noir. 95 points. James Halliday Published 14 February 2023. This rare wine is produced from the original pinot noir vines brought to Australia by James Busby.in 1833.