Ashton Hills Piccadilly Valley No. 1 Pinot Noir 2013

Description

Ashton Hills has the oldest pinot vineyard in the Adelaide Hills.   Stephen George wears 3 winemakers’ hats – one for his Ashton Hills wines coming from his estate vineyard high in the Adelaide Hills, one for Galah Wines and the other for the iconic Wendouree in Clare.  He refers to his dry grown Piccadilly Valley vineyard planted back in 1982 as the Burgundy of the Adelaide Hills .  Much experimentation with pinot noir clones (15 clones planted) and trellising has resulted in sublime pinot noir.  Ashton Hills has received many awards including the coveted 5 Red star rating from James Halliday.

Ashton ‘s Piccadilly Valley Pinot is traditionally a blend of fruit from the Estate vineyard as well as Jim Grigg ‘s Cemetery block (right next to the quaint graveyard in the neighbouring village, Uraidla, a five minute drive away).  Stephen George has long harboured an ambition to “show what Jim ‘s fruit is like by itself and to assess the influence our fruit has on the blend. ”  Thanks to decent volumes in 2013, the opportunity arose to do just this thus two separate cuvées were bottled from this vintage.  This bottling (No.1) comes exclusively from the Cemetery block (where as No. 2 is the ‘regular ‘ 50% Estate/50% Cemetery).   Although the Piccadilly sub region may be small the undulating topography means the difference between its sites can be pronounced.  When compared to the Ashton Hills site the Uraidla has deeper soil and lying 50 metres lower down the valley is warmer, has less rainfall and is less humid.  In an average year, the Grigg vineyard will be picked a couple of weeks earlier than the Ashton Hills vineyard, though at the same ripeness.  Under George ‘s patronage, and at this price point, this single vineyard wine is a bargain.  It is certainly a richer,  fleshier, more structured example of Pinot than the No.2. yet remains a bright, spicy, raspberry and dark cherry noted Pinot with very fine tannins and tangy acidity by typical Australian standards.

“94 Points. This block is showcase solo for the first time. It excemplifies its warmer site in more muscle that the higher and cooler Ashton Hills ‘ vineyard. making for a distinctive yet authentic and compelling comparison. 14%. ” Tyson Stelzer. WBM September 2014.

RRR $42