Pinot Noir - A medium bodied wine, the boquet has a soft strawberry and cherry characters that linger to a toasty oak finish.

This block of D2V5 clone has long proven an integral component of our Estate Pinot Noir blend, consistently contributing a light touch of prettiness, perfume and poise to marry with the routinely more robust elements provided by our MV6 clonal blocks. As an extension of our explorations into the possibilities of future ‘fits’ for our vineyard plantings in the face of the steadily evolving and warming climate, we are also delving into the world of clonal variation in Pinot Noir. Trial and subsequent selection of suitable clones beyond the omnipresent and, so far, unsurpassed Yarra Valley ‘workhorse’ MV6 clone may well throw a lifeline in extending the ongoing viability of this noble variety on the Valley floor. As a first step in this process, we chose to feature the north facing D2V5 clone as a singular wine. This wine walks a tense line between savoury and sweet-fruited characters. It bears a brightness of colour with an intensity of varietal fruit. Aromas of black cherry and char, rose petals and baked clay abound, with darker elements of clove, nutmeg, coffee and damp earth. The palate features flavours of sarsaparilla, Aleppo pepper, and porcini mushroom powder. Miso and cocoa nib surf a subliminal stemmy note. Clonal particularity accentuated by a soft guiding hand in the winemaking delivers a promising steppingstone in a future represent for this clone in our closely entwined Yarra Valley floor climatic and clonal future.

Conceived as our homage to the pioneering game-changing ‘Super Tuscan’ Vino da Tavola blends of Firenze (specifically Marchesi Antinori’s ‘Solaia’ from their Tenuta Tignanello) and Bolgheri in western central Italy. This blend of the intensely-fruited traditional Bordelaise grape variety with the earthy asperity of Sangiovese takes strengths from each of its requisite components to make a wine of regal rusticity that treads a path a little less travelled. The aroma is underpinned by an uncommon and intriguing earthiness. A mélange of red and black wild fruits, currants, plums and sarsparilla are underpinned by savoury notes of nutmeg, olive tapenade, maquis and charred capretto weaving amongst a top note of leafiness. Its dense yet refined sanguineous palate is replete with juicy flavours of mulberry, blood orange, Amaretto, Szechuan pepper, black tea and cocoa powder. The all-singing all-dancing palate runs deep, reverberating with char, dark fruits and a subtle acid line enhanced by a slow build of graphitic tannins and subtle Cynaresque bitterness. This wine is suitable for vegans.

Mac has a long history in Yarra Valley, starting out at Mount Mary before honing his skills in Burgundy and then returning back to the Yarra to start his own project. The Mac Forbes villages range is a reflection of the incredible diversity of one of Australia’s premier wine regions, the Yarra Valley. Each one shows the terroir of the site, while being made with restraint and traditional winemaking techniques.

Established in 1995, Toolangi Vineyard is in the Yarra Valley adjoining the Toolangi State Forest. This single-site vineyard on fine clay loam produces wines with distinctive personalities, each wine showing a strong sense of place. The vines were cropped low, and the fruit was hand-harvested from 20-year-old vines of MV6 Pinot Noir clone. The fruit was destemmed as whole berries, with 5% left as whole bunches. There was a short cold soak prior to fermentation and the wine was then left on skins for 14 days. It was then pressed to French oak (5% new) for malolactic conversion and left on lees in oak for 10 months. “Light but satisfying. Delicious spice notes, sweet and roasted, with the tang of red cherry and cranberry flavours. It has both quality and complexity written all over it but, responsibly, it’s also the kind of pinot you just want to guzzle. It has that out-and-out drinkability. Firm-ish tannin keeps things controlled and it finishes long enough to satisfy.” 92 Points, Campbell Mattinson