Clyde Park Pinot Noir releases
A pleasure to check in on these Clyde Park Pinots, which I remember once being exciting Geelong vinos. Feels like checking on a long lost friend.
Overall the quality looks much improved in these Clyde Park wines, the flat spot in the noughties now a thing of the past. Still plenty of vintage variation, but certainly getting there. A recent change in ownership, with Terry Jongebloed and Sue Jongebloed-Dixon taking control, has apparently the quality improve greatly, though you still don’t see the 
wines all that often in retail/restaurant land, suggesting that the distribution side has a way to go yet…
Clyde Park Locale Pinot Noir 2010 (Geelong, Vic) $27
Produced from Geelong region, rather than estate, fruit. Still minimal handling ala the more premium wines.
Beautiful bright open fruit here that is utterly varietal, all plum and cranberry red fruits in an expressive, gentle form. It tastes general too, real, soft, red fruited and round through the middle. I love the gentle touch of this, and although its a bit short and ill-defined to finish, the fruit joy is truly lovely. I’d drink a bottle for sure. 17.7/20 92/100
Clyde Park Estate Pinot Noir 2009
The only dark spot in this range. Kept back as it was such a big wine, with an admission that this may well have been left too long on the vine.
Caramel oak, browner colours and a sense of advancement. A heavier, headier wine with a real, gritty punch but otherwise not much joy. Feels a bit bogged down in its ripeness, without the vivacity of the Locale. Not much joy for mine. 15.5/20 86/100
Clyde Park Reserve Pinot Noir 2010
Serious. Red fruit with a suggestion of stems, the nose a little volatile but otherwise condensed, firm and very serious, the acidity seemingly higher, the finish undulating and long. There is pinosity here, it just needs to jump over the structure, with a decent swirl revealing the hint of fruit loveliness. In 3-5 its going to be a star, though nowhere near as drinkable as the Locale today. Score represents a compromise (and the plus signs are very important).
17.8/20 92/100+
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