• French oak
• Blackberry
• Wild thyme
• Sophisticated tannins

"Beautifully styled and elegantly expressed, the wine shows dark plum, floral, subtle game, mushroom and almond characters on the nose, followed by a gorgeously flowing palate that's fleshy and lingering. Elegant, complex and refined with layers of delectable flavours" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, May 2021

"Moderate ruby-red with a black hue and good transparency, slightly lighter on the rim. The nose is softly full and captivating with lifted floral, black tea fragrance melded with blackberries, Doris plums and a dusting of spice. Medium-bodied, succulent aromas of blackberries, plums interweave thyme, liquorice, black tea and a subtle earthy layer; prickly barrel spices linger to a bright, long finish. The fruit is vibrant, have the right balance of ripeness and acidity, showing delicate fragrant nuance. A silky palate supported by fine-grained, powdery tannin and a smooth-flowing mouthfeel. This is a charming dark-fruited Pinot Noir with aromatic botanicals and an attractive silky palate. Match with venison carpaccio and duck over the next 5+ years" Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews, May 2021

"Youthful, varietal, complex and sophisticated bouquet. Aromas of Bendigo first with scents of schist and wild herb, then fresh red cherry and red currant, moments of raspberry and wild flowers. As the wine opens up in glass the core of fruit becomes stronger and more pure. Oak use is of judiciously placed spice and toast attributes adding breadth and depth as well as complexity. Equally complex on the palate, but also quite new still, fresh and vibrant with fruit flavours that mirror the nose, firm youthful textures from chalky textured tannins and acidity and combined with the juicy salivating core of fruit and oak adds structure and ageing attributes" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, May 2021

"A lifted, enticing nose with an array of aromas - red currants, raspberries, red liquorice, and some creamy, white chocolate, oak. A lighter, beguiling, charming style with a supple texture, and vibrant acidity enhancing drinkability. A wine with broad commercial appeal" NZ Wine Rater, Sep 2021

A complex and perfumed bouquet with aromas of blackberry, otago cherry, licorice, wild thyme and a splash of violet. The ascending palate builds in the mouth with impressive fruit purity underscored by cedar and spice. This youthful wine has great drive with persistent dark berry, sophisticated tannins and enduring freshness. The athletic frame speaks of its"classic" Bendigo origins, yet it's supple and graceful side shows a character less often found in the sub-region.

The hand harvested fruit was picked by clone when each reached optimal ripeness in mid-April. There were three separate ferments ranging from 11-25% whole clusters. Including fermentation of about seven days, the average time on skins was 24 days. All three ferments were pressed to 2bar with no press cuts and were settled overnight before going to barrel. The wine underwent full malolactic fermentation and was aged in fine grain french oak barrels (20% new) for around 11.5 months before all components were blended in preparation for bottling.