95 POINTS
Dave Brookes - Halliday Wine Companion
Bright ruby with aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry and red cherry fruits with hints of exotic spice, leaf litter, pomegranate, amaro, orange blossom, roast game, dried citrus rind and crushed stone. The gamey notes flow in a bit more on the palate, infusing through the pure dark cherry, strawberry and raspberry fruits as the palate unfurls slowly, supported by chalky tannins and fine, lacy acidity.
94 POINTS
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2023 Coal River Valley Pinot Noir is lean and spicy, with gravelly, fine tannins and bright acidity. The weaving of all elements of this wine pulls together so pleasingly on the palate—it is grainy and fresh at once. It is sapid, succulent, lean and tight and even tense. The tannins are so profuse, and it moves into rose petals and asphalt—this is very attractive. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
94 POINTS
Dave Brookes - Halliday Wine Companion
A single-vineyard pinot noir from Pipers River showing plenty of wild strawberry, dark cherry and plum fruits with hints of medina spice, char siu, mountain herbs, dried citrus rind, citrus blossom, pomegranate, dried cranberries, dried meats and turned earth. A little more concentration this release; fruits a shade darker in the swatch book but still nicely composed, with a swoop of sour cherry, powdery tannins and a vivid briny cadence on the back end.
93 POINTS
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front
Coal River Valley is the estate vineyard here, not Pipers River.
It’s a seamless and even pinot noir, very polished, just so. Dark cherry, a cranberry elements, a touch of lemony coolness and zestiness through the wine, a cushioning of sweet spices, dark chocolate too. It’s brooding but feels soft, if not a touch diffuse, but has its charms and guile. A bit of lathed wood character creeps in. It’s got some flair and finesse.
93 POINTS
Dave Brookes - Halliday Wine Companion
Pinot noir from Pipers River, Coal River Valley and Ouse with varying amounts of whole bunch depending on the site. Garnet with wild strawberry, red cherry and red plum fruits with hints of struck flint, poached rhubarb, pomegranate, exotic spice, dried mountain herbs, wild flowers, gentle gamey notes and turned leaf litter. Some nice fruit concentration this year with some darker plum notes coming in on the palate, tight, chalky tannins and a bright, briny acid line. Finishes sapid with a sour cherry rush.