2023 Single Vineyard 'Summit' Pinot Noir

Winemaker: Erinn Klein

Grape(s): Pinot Noir

GI: Adelaide Hills (Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia)

Site(s): Summit Vineyard - Winner 2023 'Vineyard of the Year', Young Gun of Wines

Vintage notes: The growing season leading into the vintage of 2023 was by all accounts our wettest and cooler in at least a decade. We managed to just stay on top of our disease pressure during the spring of 2022 and then benefited the rewards with near zero pressure close to harvest. A long, slow much later than normal harvest meant amazing flavour development, great acid retention in the grape across all varieties. Even our late Italian varieties we finally managed to get ripe.

Vineyard notes: Grapes in this wine are grown on our east-facing Summit Vineyard which collects more of the morning sunlight and less of the intense, direct afternoon heat. At an altitude rising from 330m to 360m above sea level, the soil of the Summit Vineyard consists of sandy loam over red-orange clay, sandstone and ironstone. Fruit for our Single Vineyard Pinot Noir comes from a small section in the top and middle of this vineyard where the balance of topsoil over subsoil is optimal for vine balance, flavour concentration and structure. The entire farm is certified biodynamic and is farmed with the rhythms of nature, without the use of synthetic chemical inputs for over 40 years.

Winemaking: The Pinot Noir is gently hand harvested into small 15kg crates and mostly destemmed into small batch fermenters, 5% by weight of whole bunches are placed in the bottom of each fermenter. The grapes are plunged by hand or feet, up to twice a daily for a gentle and long extraction over three weeks on skins. The pinot was pressed into new (30%) French oak barriques (228L) and left in barrel to mature for 11 months. A small dose of sulfur was added at blending prior to bottling. No added yeast, no enzymes, no fining.

Tasting note: A Pinot Noir of exceptional depth, presence and finesse. This Single Vineyard expression combines vibrant fruit with savoury complexity and impressive structure. Fragrant aromas of cherry, raspberry, ripe plum, and forest strawberries are layered with lifted notes of amaro and wild mediterranean herbs. The palate is defined by its power and clarity - bright red fruits supported by savoury tones of bay, thyme, oregano, and a whisper of cocoa nibs. Fine tannins frame the wine with elegance, giving it both immediate appeal and the structure to age gracefully.