2023 Marchand & Burch Mount Barrow Pinot Noir

Showing off an exuberance of youth with fresh strawberries and cherries, kirsch and a hint of forest floor aromas. It’s very primary, although extra time in bottle will ensure this develops complexity. Juicy acidity, raw-silk tannins and an immediate appeal make it hard to resist now, though.

Perfume leaps from the glass with all manner of charred orange zest, amaro bitters, dried wild herbs, grilled blood orange, potpourri florals, simmering minerality, fine exotic spice and sour red cherry framed in chocolatey oak. The palate follows through in seductive and elegant tones of dried purple florals, oolong tea, crushed lavender, smoked jasmine, smoked wild sage, wild briar wood spice, and sea spray. It’s hard not to steal a cheeky swallow of this liquid beauty, as it’s siren call is heady. Uber fine dusty and red earthed tannins and layered, and silvery acidity aligned. A balanced and poised wine with a pillowy, soft-palmed handshake in front of a firm structure. It leaves you with a sense that there are plenty of secrets to discover behind a charming smile and almost flirtatious gaze.

Gloriously generous and richly flavoured pinot with raspberry, plum and zingy redcurrant flavours. There’s subtle oak toast and spice with a flash of menthol. This is most definitely not one of those light and breezy pinots. It is a statuesque, with savoury tannins that coats the mouth and provide structure for the intense flavours. Nevertheless, there is a charm and velvety richness which linger long and evokes a smile.

Perfumed and lifted floral of roses, then dried cranberries, red cherries, red plums, vanilla pods, touch of cloves and dried cooking herbs. The palate is supple and generous in its fruit. It has sweet spices, a multi-layered texture, velvety tannins, and an earthy and savoury quality as it closes. This is such an inviting wine with a discerning length.

It’s impressive, strutting its stuff from the start with such an enticing nose – roses, violets, cherries and forest floor. A real extrovert. From there, we’re straight into red fruit flavours of strawberry, raspberry and cherry, silky and soft, but certainly not lacking intensity. Spice is there too but in a teasing way…a flicker of jasmine and sage coming through on the tongue. Juicy and fine, this is a good example of how good Great Southern pinot can be. Dusty tannings to bring a savoury edge would lend this wine to food. Try a juicy pork tenderloin and enjoy the show.

A burst of sweet berries, strawberry tart, cranberries, ripe cherries. The first thing to taste is salt, iodine, then peppery spice, dark chocolate, moist earth quality in texture and all is cool and smooth with velvety tannins. It’s well-measured, well-behaved, an imprint of good quality fruit and elegant winemaking style.