Description
Ashton Hills has the oldest pinot vineyard in the Adelaide Hills. Stephen George wears two winemakers’ hats … one for his Ashton Hills wines coming from his estate vineyard high in the Adelaide Hills, the other for the iconic Wendouree wines in Clare. He refers to his dry grown Piccadilly Valley vineyard planted back in 1982 as the “Burgundy of the Adelaide Hills”. Stephen is one of Australia’s most highly respected winemaking viticulturalists and a pioneer of Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir. In 1982 he planted his dry-grown 3 hectare vineyard (which he refers to as his garden!) and has experimented much with trellising and planting 21 different pinot clones and settled on the best performing 5 clones. To give you an idea of the attention to detail of this craftsman, sometimes they go through 4 times hand picking the same row to ensure optimum ripeness! The result is sublime pinot noir … unfortunately in minuscule quantities!
Following the maturation period, a few barrels are carefully selected as being the “best of the best”, displaying the finest expression of pinot noir from the estate and with the potential for significant ageing. The Reserve is the pinnacle of the range showing lifted perfume notes, and a depth of flavour, character and length that should live beyond 10 years in the bottle. While displaying many of the traits associated with the Estate Pinot Noir, the Reserve sees more new oak and tends to carry greater weight and structure, providing the “bones” for extended cellaring. By its nature, quantities are very limited from each vintage.
From the winery: “The 2014 growing season in the Adelaide Hills was a bumpy ride indeed: cool conditions in spring resulted in appalling flower set, there was a heatwave in January and unprecedented rain in mid-February. Miraculously however, while our Pinot Noir yield was well below average, quality was excellent. A third of this Reserve wine was matured in new French oak while a third each of three of our five preferred clones – 777, D5V12 and MV6 – contributed to the blend. Drink now or cellar for around 10 years for significant further complexity.”Ashton Hills
97 points, James Halliday “Below average yield of high quality from clones 777, D5V12 and MV6, 33% matured in new French oak. Has the extra depth and complexity typical of this label, the low yield obvious in its layered power. It has at least 10 years in front of it, yet the perfect line, length and balance makes it a hedonistic pleasure to drink right now, revelling in its sumptuous plum and black cherry fruit.”
97 Points Huon Hooke “Smoky, oaky, stemmy whole-bunchy, superbly complex bouquet. Layered dark fruits and sappy nuances. The palate is deep, rich and concentrated, with great persistence and power. A gorgeous and profound wine: lush and yet focused and fine at the same time. Outstanding.”
94 points, Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com “A bolder wine with power and concentration, it proudly carries the DNA of this mature vineyard with a brambly array of red and blue fruits. Cherries are the focus, the oak is swallowed up by concentrated fruit and the spice and earth are written into the script of years ahead. This wine has plenty of fragrance to give, opening up with energy and vigor. The palate has contained shape and streamlined powerful tannins run in unison whilst acidity is a feature throughout. It drives long, packed with red and dark-cherry fruit flavors. Sweetly spicy and impeccably even.”
RRP $91
