Description
Gary Farr is one of Australia’s Pinot pioneers and knows more about Pinot than anyone! He began at Bannockburn wines in the 80’s and with his son Nick (combined) they have done 20 vintages at Domaine Dujac in Morey-St-Denis in Burgundy. Their vineyard (planted in 1994) is located at Bannockburn (near Geelong) and planted on volcanic soils over limestone. Their winemaking influence is very Burgundian (natural yeast, whole bunch fermentation and long maceration for the reds) to produce wines that reflect their terroir with pure primary fruit characters and savoury depth, structure and longevity. I regard their Pinots and Chardonnay as up there with the best in land. …Their wines are rated in the Top Ten wines in their categories every year in James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion.
Nick Farr was named 2021 Gourmet Traveller ‘Winemaker of the Year’ & 2022 Real Review ‘Winery of the Year’.
Tout Pres was planted in 2001 and is a very special and intriguing site. It rises above the other vineyards, and each of the three slopes consists of a different soil type. The largest slope is black volcanic soil over limestone; the second is quartz gravel mixed with red ironstone; the third is an iron strand in grey sandy loam. The clones, which will acclimatise and mutate over time to become the ‘Tout Pres clone’, are 113, 114, 115, 667, 777 and MV6.
With 7300 vines per half-acre, Tout Pres is the most densely planted vineyard on the estate—hence its name, which translates as “very cosy”. This land is a challenge to farm, but well worth the effort. The soils and close competition force the vines to work hard, with the result being fruit that is lush but masculine, and which provides the coveted structure found only in the most age-worthy wines.
Tout Pres is made using the same process as the other two pinots. It is fermented with 100 per cent whole bunches (80 per cent in 2011) in a five-tonne oak fermenter. This wine has the largest flavour profile and intensity, to absorb 100 per cent new French oak from Allier. A wine with truly understated power and richness—the classic peacock’s tail.
“With every year that passes, the Tout Pres vineyard’s subtleness and delicate fruit structure are becoming increasingly pronounced in the wine. The bouquet fills the glass with spicy fruit, mineral elements and a hint of integrated French oak, with the darkness and essence of the Moorabool Valley true expressions of site. Classic whole bunch on the nose, spice and heady ripe fruit notes intermingle. A more expressive, single minded wine that will shape shift in the cellar almost as much as it does on your palate. Ripe fruit notes, layered between sweet spice, cardamom, dill, sour cherry, graphite and pepper. The most structured of the trio, the most engaging and arguably polarising. The Tout Pres feels wild with a mouth-watering savouriness and endless complexity.” Nick Farr
TASTING NOTE, by Ben Knight for Nick Farr “In the glass a big hit of amaro like dark fruit and stemmy spice, a real dark shade of cherry and char. The lift comes from the acidity and stems and it works as a counterpoint to the fruit. It’s savoury and layered, shifting from beguiling and seductive to edgy and angsty. Gunsmoke, maybe Russian caravan tea, albeit a subtle version or a memory of it, dry earth, charred wood, cornichon, black bean and mushroom. You can almost taste the struggle of these tightly packed little vines that overlook the moorabool valley. As your olfactory bits acclimatize, the second sniff is all fruit and something like ginger; sweet but with purpose. Warm spices like mace and cardamom dominate and rhubarb, cherry and chinotto round it out. I drink lots of wine in my day job, and perhaps my years are making me jaded, but this type of expression, this individual and importantly, replicative level of complexity is unmatched.”
This prestige release is again testament to By Farr as one of Australia’s finest wine growers.
98 points, Tom Kline, Decanter, Oct 2023: “Enthralling from the get-go, with aromas of twiggy spice, menthol and red cherry making way for subtle smoke, minerals and superbly integrated sweet cedary oak. The palate is compact and cool with plum, forest floor and tilled earth kept linear and furled by assertive structure. This will age long for its restrained power and firm, fine tannins. There’s lift and glide, buoyancy and brightness, with a dark core beneath. An exceptional Pinot Noir of immense charm and compelling complexity.”
98 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review: “Deep, bright red with a good tint of purple and a very savoury bouquet with dry straw mulch, root vegetable, raspberry and beetroot characters, the palate bright and lively with fresh acidity and abundant but balanced tannins which add structure and drive. Awesome power and concentration; seriously impressive. This will reward cellaring although it already drinks superbly.”
Our price $162.99 – Last stocks of vintage!
