2016 Farr Rising Pinot Noir

The ever rising prices of Burgundy have forced many wine lovers out of the market for these often magical and mesmerising, yet occasionally disappointing wines. Some will continue to spend a small fortune, addicted to the chase of that surreal vinous experience, whilst others will choose to look for more affordable new world alternatives such as Farr Rising. Nick Farr continues to raise the bar with each vintage of these wines and on a comparative basis to Burgundy they deliver great value for money.

The fruit for this wine is grown on two different sites at the winery in Bannockburn. The first site is a mixture of 114 and 115 pinot clones in a loam soil with iron stone pebbles, the second is the MV6 clone planted in black volcanic soil over loamstone. The fruit is hand harvested and sorted in the vineyard and fermented in open-top fermenters of which 60% to 70% of the fruit is typically destemmed. The wine is matured in Allier barrels (25% new) for 18 months.

A superb Geelong Pinot Noir, light and fresh with a power wave of flavour that expands across the palate like a peacock’s tail.

Deep bright dark red colour with black tinged edges and a crimson hue. Perfumed violet aromas intermesh with dark cherries, strawberries, fresh plum and notions of dried clove followed by some meatiness and spicy cedar. Light and fresh a power wave of flavour expands across the palate like a peacock’s tail, ripe dark cherry and strawberry flavours intermixing with a dash of sour cherries and fresh plum. Infusions of dried cloves, meaty characters and spicy cedar ensue. A burst of lively acidity giving the finish a sense of freshness with the understated richness of fruit largely absorbing the seamlessly integrated fine grained tannin structure. Superb length with a long savoury conclusion of dark cherries, strawberries, traces of sour cherries, subtle dried cloves, meaty characters and spicy vanillin cedar.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc 13.5%