2024 Singlefile Single Vineyard Mount Barker Pinot Noir
VINEYARD & WINEMAKING
The pinot noir grape variety is very well suited to the cool climate terroir of the Mount Barker subregion of the Great Southern. This parcel of fruit is from the established Moore River Vineyard, which consistently presents strong varietal characters.
The 2024 season delivered warmer, dry weather throughout the growing season, leading to harvest about a month earlier than usual. The warmer conditions have resulted in a darker, more brooding styled pinot noir.
The fruit was harvested between 6-11 March 2024. It was picked, gently de-stemmed and then cold soaked for two full days. A parcel was barrel fermented and underwent natural fermentation in new French oak, the remainder went to small open fermenters and later to new and seasoned oak. The wine spent approximately eleven months in French oak 225L barriques, 30% new. It was then prepared for bottling in early February 2025.
THE WINE
A medium bodied pinot noir with lifted aromas of red cherries, dark florals and baking spices, as well as complex vegetal forest floor aromas. These characters follow through on the palate, with some support from oak, which presents nicely in the background, and subtle herbal notes. The wine has a medium palate weight, and a softly textured mouth feel with delicate, smooth tannins and bright natural acidity. The wine finishes with good length of flavour and a dry, spiced finish. It is well suited to complement game or light red meat dishes, and cellaring will encourage development of further earthy complexity.
CRITIC REVIEWS OF NOTE
2024 Vintage
New Release
2023 Vintage
93 points, Ken Gargett, WinePilot, October 2024
94 points, Ray Jordan's Top 100 Reds, July 2024
94 points, Barry Weinman, May 2024
93 points, Wine Showcase, March 2024
93 points, Paul Edwards, March 2024
2022 Vintage
95 points, Ray Jordan, 2024 WA Wine Review, December 2023
94 points, Wine Showcase Magazine, July 2023
2021 Vintage
94 points, Wine Showcase Magazine, December 2021
Product Reviews
First impressions - lovely colour, the seductive, smokey nose so distinctive of pinot, but not overbearing. Tonight it was paired with a rare, grilled steak.
First taste - subtle woodiness, but not of oak, although it has spent some time on oak, and the fruit very much to the fore - cherries, very definitely and just a hint of tannin on the finish. As the evening progressed the fruit became more distinct and the wine developed a smooth, more mellow quality - or was that just me?
Summary: lovely to drink now, but it will benefit from 5 - 10 years in your cellar.
It has a balanced acidity for coming from a cooler region with beautiful fruit characters of cherry, cranberry and raspberry with very well incorporated use of both old and new oak. Typically drinking a current vintage of a wine that has a 30% portion of new oak needs some time to have all of its components mellow out together. However, this Pinot Noir has always been beautiful to drink upon release.
Due to being a very balanced, smooth and easy drinking red that you could have all year round, especially if you briefly chill it in your fridge, it is a stunning wine to bring to any social gathering. It also would please a more critical audience as well due to how well the wine has been crafted.