2006 Curly Flat Pinot Noir

Winemaker, Phil Moraghan is fanatical about the great wines of Burgundy, focusing on the region's two major varietals, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. While many traditional Burgundian winemakers choose to make wines according to a text book, (harvesting on the same date, employing identical oak regimes and the same fermentation techniques year in, year out), Moraghan takes a less passive approach. He responds to the challenges of vintage variation with creativity and experiment to ensure he gets the best possible result every year. It's an attitude that's quickly established an enviable reputation for Curly Flat's wines, which already stand shoulder to shoulder along side Bindi as the finest producer in the Macedon ranges. Nicks Wine Merchants are once again fortunate to have secured a limited allocation of the Curly Flat Pinot Noir & Chardonnay, both wines being now almost exclusively exported or reserved for the restaurant trade.

2006 was considered a perfect growing season at Curly Flat with a long, steady ripening period, achieving excellent natural acidity in the fruit and concentrating flavours. The wine displays remarkable depth and colour for a Pinot. Dark, crimson mauve colour with a crimson mauve hue. The nose is perfumed, displaying classic Burgundian aromas of dark cherry, violets, game and Troncais oak, followed by a touch of spice – a superb sniff. The palate delivers excellent weight with flavours of dark cherry, spice, cedar and truffle, followed by some game and anise end notes. Excellent length with an impressive 'power wave' delivered over the velvet smooth tannins. Long aftertaste of dark cherry, spice and anise. A superb Curly Flat and worthy challenger to some of the best Pinots emanating from our New Zealand cousins.
Cellar 3-4 years (2012-2013)
13.5% Alc Other Reviews...
In the mainstream of the Curly Flat Pinot style; supple, velvety red fruits open the story, and persisting while complex spicy/foresty notes whisper in the background. Pleasure now or later.
Screwcap. 13.5% alc. Drink 2016 Date Tasted Feb 09.
95 points
James Halliday , Australian Wine Companion.