Description
Ashton Hills is a three hectare vineyard that lies in the Piccadilly Valley sub region of the Adelaide Hills on a ridge just below the summit of Mount Lofty. The estate was founded by Stephen George in 1982 and since that time it has built a reputation as one of Australia’s finest proponents of pinot noir and cool climate whites.
For over 30 years Stephen experimented with up to 25 pinot noir clones, ultimately settling on five key clones that now make the acclaimed Reserve and Estate Pinot Noirs from Ashton Hills, plus a range of awarded sparkling wines. Eight carefully cultivated rows of riesling also remain in the Ashton Hills vineyard, producing a highly exclusive and limited Ashton Hills riesling each year.
Stephen George wore two winemakers’ hats … one for his Ashton Hills wines, the other for the iconic Wendouree wines in Clare. He refered to his dry grown Piccadilly Valley vineyard as the “Burgundy of the Adelaide Hills” and his “garden”. Stephen is one of Australia’s most highly respected winemaking viticulturalists and a pioneer of Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir. The result is sublime pinot noir.. unfortunately in minuscule quantities!
Stephen has now taken a step back into semi-retirement to spend more time travelling to his beloved Burgundy, and has transferred his stake in Ashton Hills to Wirra Wirra Vineyards, with its pedigree in cool climate Adelaide Hills whites and quality McLaren Vale reds. Nonetheless, he continues to reside at his home at the winery and works closely at vintage with the Wirra Wirra winemaking team to continue the tradition of producing benchmark wines from the Ashton Hills site.
“The Ashton Hills winery will always be the heart and soul of the Adelaide Hills wine region. Founder Stephen George set all the benchmarks; his relentless pursuit of myriad grape clones and varieties laid the foundation for the thriving region of today. Ashton Hills has been owned by Wirra Wirra since 2015, though it speaks volumes that Stephen still lives on the property and remains involved in its operation. This has been the most respectful of handovers, best proven by the steady and continued stream of top-tier releases.” Campbell Mattinson for Halliday Wine Companion
About this wine and vintage: The 2023 Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir is a blend of fruit from a handful of grower vineyards around the Ashton Hills estate. The resulting wine benefits from varied fruit character and vineyard expression, while maintaining the fine tannin structure that is typical of the Ashton Hills style.
For the second year in a row the Piccadilly Valley growing season resulted in reduced yields. The long, cool and wet winter pushed into December affecting flowering and a cooler than average start to the year meant the small bunches and berries needed well into March/April to reach maturity.
Fragrant aromatics of red cherry, raspberry and Indian spice. Starting with blackberry and strawberry the juicy palate then gives way to a touch of spice and savoury undergrowth. The balanced acidity and powdery tannins provide a long and supple finish.
Grapes were handpicked, keeping individual clones and vineyards separate in small open fermenters. Some whole bunch fruit (10%) was added to ferments, enhancing aromatics and structural complexity. Fermentation was initiated by indigenous yeast (wild ferment). Each parcel was basket pressed directly to seasoned French oak barriques and puncheons with full solids. All barrels were kept on lees to build palate weight, body, texture and complexity. They were racked and blended just prior to bottling. Drink now or cellar for up to five years for further complexity.
94 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front “There’s an inherent vibrancy and energy to this wine, with bright fruit, lithe spice elememnts, toasty notes gently sewn through and a core of crushed rock minerality that weaves evenly and with interest through it all. Succulent texture, a gentle nature despite the vitality, transperency and purity as bylines. Delicious drinking ensues, and for those seeking understated and elegant rendering of the variety, look no further. Should mature gracefully in the medium term too.”
93 points, Erin Larkin for Robert Parker “In the glass, the wine is a pale ruby and, aromatically, leads with strawberry, red apple, clove and potpourri. On the palate, the wine is tight and a little tart, with chinotto and blood orange, cherry and star anise. The 10% whole bunches emphasize the spiciness of the wine. It gets better as you drink more of it—an admirable quality in any wine—and the red fruit really starts to settle into the structure. I’d suggest getting this in a big glass and letting some air into it—it helps.”
93 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front “Fluid movement. This is so spicy it’s almost peppery, though it also leans on the sappy side of that equation. But it’s the juicy, energetic flow of the fruit that really draws you in. Cherry-cranberrystrawberry characters wash attractively throughout, ushering those abundant spice notes. Tannin clumps slightly perhaps though it’s quickly moved along by the juiciness of the fruit. This is a lovely drink.”
RRP $53 Our Special Price $39.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine
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