Bindi Darshan Pinot Noir 2018

Description

Bindi’, 50 kilometres north-west of Melbourne in the Macedon Ranges, is the family property of the Dhillon family. Originally purchased in the 1950s as part of the larger grazing farm ‘Bundaleer’, ‘Bindi’ is a 170 hectare farm of which 7 hectares are planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Fifteen hectares are dedicated to managed plantation eucalypts for high grade furniture timber whilst the remainder of the land is maintained as remnant bush land and important indigenous grasslands.
The Bindi vineyard is the fundamental focus of our endeavors. Our vineyard and winemaking philosophy is to seek balance and purity in the expression of our various individual vineyard sites and this philosophy is applied to farming and conservation at ‘Bindi’; the preservation of the natural harmony.

Campbell Mattinson on Bindi “The Bindi farm spans 170ha but only 7ha is planted to vines. This simple fact is an insight into the care and respect the Dhillon family has for its land, its heritage and its future. There are only 2 varieties planted (pinot noir and chardonnay) on the home vineyard, with both long-established for their stellar quality. Bindi is without question among a select few at the top echelon of Australian wine and essentially has been ever since its 1988 plantings first hit their straps.”

Michael Dhillon – Halliday’s Winemaker of the Year 2022

About this wine from the winemaker: “In 1958 Bindi founder Darshan Singh Dhillon came to Australia from Punjab, India, via schooling in Malaysia. Darshan (“Spiritual Vision”) was considered foreign for the times. ‘Bill’ became his name in Australia until he passed in 2013. This atmospheric tribute vineyard (planted 2014 in quartz, sandstone, mudstone and clay with younger volcanic soils) rests alongside the house and winery facing west. It honours Bill, his spiritual vision and gifts to this place, his family and his community.

“Over the first seven vintages, to 2023, we have seen this site produce ethereal wine showing exquisite perfume and spice with a lacey, sinewy, flowing long palate. Darshan , like Original Vineyard, is about perfume and finesse whereas Block 8 and Block 5 share fruit depth and structure in common. The wine spends 15-17 months in French barrels of which about 35% are new. From 2017 onwards we are seeing the wines age gracefully and build earth, texture and intriguing beauty.”

“It’s a rare treat to have a wine or three that we hold for five plus years and are able to assess many bottles over the time to enjoy and contemplate. Normally the wines are grown, made, bottled and sold out within 15 to 18 months. With Darshan and Block 8 we have had the opportunity to see many bottles of these wines, to understand the vineyards, the seasons, their personalities and to evolve our expectations. It’s been a treat.

“The 2018 season was a little warmer than 2017. The nose is floral, ethereal even, with sweet, wild forest fruits. Added complexity comes from aromas of brown spices, game and a cool red cherry freshness. The palate has lovely texture and weight, is mouth filling and flows on and on. It is also mineral, chalky and expansive. Like the 2017, this is at a lovely stage of development at six years and will continue to drink very well over the next half dozen years and beyond.

“This is a deeply sentimental wine from a vineyard planted in a time of great emotion. Darshan, an incredibly close planted vineyard (from 11,300 to 22,600 vines per hectare), sits alongside our house and pays tribute to our beautiful mentor and the Bindi founder, Bill Dhillon.”  Michael Dhillon

RRP $150  Our Special Price $134.99- EXTREMELY LIMITED