Rachel Pinot Noir 2016

 

Still youthful, the 2016 vintage (5*) was estate-grown in the Raupo Creek and Tatou vineyards. Hand-harvested, it was matured for a year in French oak barriques (7 per cent new), aged in puncheons for a further six months, and then bottled unfined and unfiltered. It has full, bright colour and a ripely fragrant bouquet. Mouthfilling, it is a well structured wine, with concentrated, vibrant cherry, plum and spice flavours, complex and savoury, fresh acidity and a fairly firm finish. Likely to be long-lived, it's well worth cellaring to 2023+.

5 stars - Michael Cooper