Dry River Pinot Noir 2014

Scores

98 / 100

"An intense, velvety Pinot Noir, with strong sweet cherry, Oriental spices, plum, violet and nutty oak flavours. A powerful wine in a style that often attracts criticism for being too big and lacking varietal identity, but you only need to taste this wine after a decade in bottle to begin to appreciate its wonderful potential and true varietal character. Deliciously approachable now but much better later"
- Bob Campbell MW

98 / 100

"This is impeccably composed. Fragrant aromas of dark cherry, blueberry, violet and mixed spice with nuances of game and truffle on the nose. The palate is concentrated and focused, and exhibits awesome weight and roundness, backed by loads of fine tannins. The wine is pristine yet complex, and finishes with sustained delectable flavours. A wonderful expression of the variety, the district and the winemaker. At its best: 2018 to 2026."
- Sam Kim

94 / 100

"If pulling the cork on the 2014 Pinot Noir soon, be sure to decant it a bit in advance of serving to allow some tarry aromas to dissipate. Once past those, pretty black cherry, raspberry and spice notes emerge, along with a simply gorgeous, plump, silky texture. It's expansive in the mouth without being weighty, while those tannins gain strength on the finish, suggesting at least a decade more of aging potential"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

18.5 / 20

"Five Stars. 18.5/20. Very dark, deep, black-hued ruby-red colour with slight purple hues on the edge. The nose is finely concentrated and tightly bound with aromas of black cherry and black-berried fruits entwined with black minerals and subtle dark herbs, and delicately complexing whole cluster stalk and stem perfumes. Black and dark red florals and a suggestion of toasty oak emerge with aeration. Medium-full bodied and elegantly presented, sweet and luscious fruit flavours of blackberries and black cherries are the feature and are melded with dark herbs and complexing stalk and stem whole cluster nuances, along with black minerals. The fruit sweetness is enhanced by fresh, lacy acidity, and the mouthfeel supported by refined tannin extraction. The palate is refreshing with the fruit sweetness balanced and driven by acid cut, and the wine carries to a long and sustained, supple-textured finish. This is an elegant and gently sweet Pinot Noir with subtle layers of complexity and fine tannin and acid freshness. Match with wild duck and pork over the next 5-6+ years. Predominantly clones 5 and 10/5 with some 115 and 777. 50% from ‘Craighall Block 6’, 25% Dry River Estate’, 15% ‘Lovat’ and 10% ‘Craighall Block 5’, fermented with under 30% whole bunches to 13.5% alc., the wine spending up to 17 days on skins and aged 12-13 months in 20% new 300 L and 350 L hogsheads."
- Raymond Chan Wine Reviews

Tasting Notes