Sapling Yard Pinot Noir 2023

Jane Faulkner - Halliday Wine Companion

The back label states fruit is off Excelsior Park vineyard at 630m, so a very cool Tumbarumba site; fermented with 30% whole-bunches, aged 10 months in new and used French oak. Wafts of musk and exotic spices, pepper, lots of herbal tones with prosciutto and earth; flavours of morello cherries and barely ripe raspberries. There’s an astringency across the lighter-framed palate with charred radicchio and bitter herbs. It needs food as a friend.

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

210 cases made. 30% whole bunch. One and two year old barriques. Pinot Noir from NSW is kind of a hard ask, though they do continue, and good luck to them too. I’m not quite sure altitude is the antidote for latitude, though with Tumby and Orange, that seems to be the case. Anyway, for the greatest state in Australia, I reckon the Hunter Valley has produced more quality Pinot than the other more lofty regions. Sue me. This is grown at 630 metres above sea level. This is very tangy, and amaro-laced, strawberry, raspberry, sap and spice. It’s kind of brittle, with a tomato bite, some grainy tannin, but gee, it’s kind of frisky and a little soupy. It doesn’t say too much about Pinot Noir to my way of thinking, more about earthy bitterness and acid twang. Yes, yes, it’s OK, but orange peel is the theme here.