2008 Principia Foris Pinot Noir

Proprietor, Darren Gaffy sits at the high end of the passion scale when it comes to Pinot, his wines amongst the Mornington Peninsula's rising stars. The vineyard he established in 1995, Principia (pronounced Prin-kip-ia), personifies the concept of minimal intervention in winemaking. The 8.5 acre site (6.5 acres of Pinot Noir and 2 acres of Chardonnay) has been dry grown since inception, fruit is hand picked, fermentations are via indigenous yeast and all wine transfers employ gravity - last we heard Darren still has not purchased a winery pump!

These traditional and gentle principals allow for lightness and delicacy without sacrificing intensity of flavour, a combination most sought after by Pinot makers, yet rarely attained at this price point.
The colour of this wine is light - even by Pinot standards, displaying a semi translucent, crimson mauve colour. The nose yields perfumed aromas of dark cherry, spice, anise and cedar with a meaty, 'duck fat' like end note. The palate displays a wonderful synchronicity of lightness and depth of flavour. Spicy dark cherry and anise flavours emerge with a touch of cedar on the back palate. Excellent power wave. Very fine grained tannin structure with long aftertaste of dark cherry, spice and anise along with a touch of dried meat. An excellent wine which would have scored even higher had the colour been better.
Drink over the next 2-3 years (2010-2013)
Alc 14.5 %