 2009 Pinot Noir like its poor second cousin thrice removed, Sauvignon Blanc, has undergone a dumming down in recent times. 5 years ago, the prospect of a Pinot on retail shelves for $12.99 was unthinkable yet is now a common phenomenon. Does this represent good value for money or just the turn to prostitution of a highly gifted and once revered prima ballerina? Fortunately with Pinot, one taste will tell you. One simply cannot make a beautiful, silky smooth yet grunty, funky and sexy Pinot if your target price is $12.99. As producers, we must strive for excellence at every stage from pruning through to bottling and the Home Block label gives us the opportunity and the motivation to do just that. This wine glows deep garnet and shimmers with translucent ruby hues as its long gangly legs juxta to gain a foothold. From the glass it emerges fragrantly beautiful with steaming camomile tea, soft black liquorice and beguilingly sweet sugar plum aromas. Snapped sage twig, whole pepper corns and a hint of birdsnest contrast the powerful rum and raisin fruit while tinderbox heartwood simmers like a smouldering ember in the afterglow. The nose rises to the touch of a warm hand emitting the moreish impression of lemon meringue pie. The palate bursts forth with a mixture of fine cohesive tannins, baked beetroot and sweet fleshy glacé cherries which burst obscenely as their plump skins are punctured by reddening teeth. Mature barn hay gives a hedgy texture and suggest increasing complexity as this secretly ambitious yet quietly forthright smooth-rooster tackles the senses like a Georgian flyhalf. Deftly weighted and exquisitely balanced, it is well struck and seems to hang in the air before gliding effortlessly between the posts. A silver bellied sliver of acidity tickles the palate with well sharpened finger nails while with long, fluttering eyelashes it worms its way into your affections. Storage for an extra 6 months in stainless steel prior to bottling has kept the wine amazingly fresh and ensures that it has a bright 4 to 6 years ahead of it.
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Available in 375ml, 750ml, 1.5 litre and 3 litre bottles Our Pinot Noir is best served slightly above cellar temperature i.e. 16 – 18 degree’s Celsius. Younger or older wines may benefit from decanting to allow them a breath of fresh air. |
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