Stonier Estate Pinot Noir 2012

Stonier Estate Pinot Noir 2012 (Mornington Peninsula, Vic)
13%, Screwcap, $28

Source: Tasting
www.stonier.com.au

What a difference a year makes…

I tasted this next to the 2011 Reserve Pinot Noir and gee the contrast was stark. Whilst the ’11 Reserve looked dry, skinny and barely ripe this cheaper, ‘standard’ Pinot Noir couldn’t be any more juicy fruited. It was almost like tasting a stemmy Spätburgunder and a mid priced Willamette Valley Pinot, the wines seemingly from different planets altogether.

This 2012 Estate Pinot is going to win lots of fans too – it’s positively luscious. Luscious, seductively generous and full of fruit, with just a dash of stem tannins to finish. I actually picked this as closer to 14.5% alcohol than 13%, such is the volume and surprisingly warmth, but it doesn’t quite derail things. You’d perhaps like a little more complexity, but that’s probably not going to happen for these dollars.

A winner.

Drink: 2013-2015
Score: 17.5/20, 91/100
Would I buy it? I’d go a glass or two for sure.