2023 Murdoch Hill Apollo Pinot Noir

96 POINTS

Katrina Butler - Halliday Wine Companion

This is comprised entirely of Lenswood fruit and the average vine age is 30-plus years. I anticipate the release of this wine from Murdoch Hill's 'space' series each year. Medium weight with dialled-up concentration, raspberry, apple fruit leather, subtle clove and cinnamon spice, an earthy moss character with dried leaves strewn atop. The tannins pull everything inward, concentrating the flavours of the wine further, suggesting a long life ahead. A beautiful reminder and promise of the potential of the region.

95 POINTS

James Suckling

Lifted and perfumed on the nose, with aromas of raspberries, wild strawberries, cassia bark and earth. The palate is medium-bodied with finely integrated acidity and tannins, giving notes of dark cherries, dried herbs and graphite. Wonderfully constructed with an underlying power. Excellent.

94 POINTS

Mike Bennie - The Wine Front

Despite where Apollo 440 ended up, let’s say on the pop end of the Big Beat scene, I still find myself toe-tapping to a lot of their music, particularly the b-sides, when I hear them. Sappy, snappy pinot noir of cola, cherry, sarsaparilla, liquorice, fennel and pepper characters dashed through with sage leaf and a light truffle element. Yummo. It’s quite potent in flavour, a bigger profile or expansive feel, let’s say, soft in tannin, good length and gently palate staining sweet spice is a thing too. Sweetness perhaps a quibble, but it flows well and so many will find this wine appealing for its more concentrated and fleshier strike of pinot noir. It’s done well, and fruit feels quality as.