Airlie Bank Pinot Noir 2016

Description

Tim Shand heads a dynamic, progressive young winemaking team at this James Halliday five star-rated winery. Punt Road is a standard-bearer for wines of character, drinkability with the proud Yarra Valley stamp. The property was founded on site of the St. Huberts Vineyard planted in the 1860s by Paul and Hubert de Castella – some of the first vines in the Yarra Valley and one of the cornerstones of Australian fine-wine tradition. Punt Road owners the Napoleone family took advantage of a tremendous head start when they planted vineyards here in the 1980s. All these years later, Tim and the team bring restless perfectionism to this intimately understood site and its mature vines planted in 1987. 100% estate grown fruit and the wines have never been better. Minimal handling and minimal additions to express the terroir of the Yarra. Airlie Bank is their second label – it’s about quality and value. Winery is in a strong position with mature 30 year old vineyard paid off to overdeliver.

Tim came to the Yarra Valley with vintages at Domaine Dujac in Burgundy, Château Margaux in Bordeaux as well as stints in Chianti, Oregon and Chile. Since then he had a hand in some of the region’s headline-grabbing wines during his time at Giant Steps before taking the helm at Punt Road in 2014. Tim and the team are making most of the freedom to push boundaries while making the most of the excellent fruit the Yarra Valley produces.

Seriously smart Pinot for a modest price really is the Holy Grail and it doesn’t come along often but here we have it with this brilliant 2016 release.  2016 was an early vintage in Coldstream and pickers and winery excelled with the fruit quality on show.

100% estate grown fruit 777, 115, MV6 clones, handpicked, wild yeasts, 20% whole bunch fermentation, followed by a touch of maturation in French oak. Unfined.Alc. 12.5%

Gorgeous aromatics and flavour of red and blue fruits, spice with savoury complexity, character and some ripe tannins. Alot more going on than the standard Yarra Valley red fruited pinot, this is bursting with charm!

There was excitement about the 2015 that we enjoyed but we like this 2016 even more as it has more pinosity we think.  Overdelivers on quality and value, perfect Pinot for the festive season and summer.  Do not miss out on a xmas box.  RRP $23