2025 Ashton Hills Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir

95 POINTS

Mike Bennie - Halliday Wine Companion

A striking release for its depth, finesse, savoury elements, spice and woody, autumnal characters. All bundled up so well, too. Dark cherry, dried leaves, bay leaf, game meat, pepper and clove, aniseed and fennel. Yes thanks. It sits at medium to fuller weight on the palate but delivers massively satisfying freshness after the generous slosh of the wine. So, too, a web of silty tannins makes for shape and length. Seriously good.

94 POINTS

Tom Kline - Winepilot

A blend of fruit from three growers and two own-managed vineyards in Piccadilly Valley. 15% whole bunch, each parcel basket pressed to seasoned French oak barriques and puncheons with full solids. Lots of pretty raspberry compote hover above emergent sous-bois, adding savoury dimension and complexity. Red cherry and cranberry tones fill out the fruit profile, and a good lick of ground nutmeg adds spice. The palate is buoyant and lifted with a lovely melding of earth, red fruits and spice: raspberry, liquorice root, red cherry, turned earth, autumn leaves and snapped twigs. Velveteen and long, with tight, fine-grained tannins providing frame alongside a surge of vibrant acidity drawing it all to extended length. A lovely, pretty and pure expression of fine, firm, balanced Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir that will no doubt reveal wonderful complexity with age. A stellar release.

93 POINTS

Tony Love - Winepilot

Ashton Hills has established an enviable reputation in the world of Pinot Noir , South Australia’s most revered producer in that field, sourcing from its home territory of the high altitude Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills. This first step into their portfolio takes in fruit from several vineyards, while its Estate and Reserve iterations are solely from its own blocks. 2025 was a warmer ripening season so the aromas and flavours are well expressed, earthly and minerally, cherry crush, tonic bitters, spicy peppery and mouthwatering. Winemaker Liam Van Pelt suggests the PV Pinot is not one to ponder too deeply – it’s the Ashton Hills wine for pure pleasure. Agreed.

93 POINTS

Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

This does more than scratch the itch. But for all of its structure and balance – and undergrowth-driven complexity – this really does have Drink Me written all over it. It’s cherried and earthen, spicy and sweet-sour, with both sinewy tannin and a well-judged plushness to its texture. Toasty oak comes through as whispers at most, and everything just feels in excellent good order. It’s well sustained too. Yes please. This is very good.