The Pinot Noir & Grenache Thread

Now these wines were picked because of my 50 years experience of cellaring wines.
Hinton Bay picked because Hinton was the cricket team I played for.
Mapleton obviously as it is a town in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
The third one is Hughes and Hughes.Picked in memory of an afternoon with Merv in the West Indies in 2007. ;) :D

I'll nominate you to be a member of our wine group. You'll fit perfectly... 😜
 
We decided to make Curly Flat Pinot and Chardonnay our "house wines" some years ago so I buy regularly each year. I just ordered an annual shipment for us and some friends and the lovely people from CF me an email with further details of some new wines. I spoke to them and they said I could post this to AFF.

The "normal" wines are available to all and the new wines are available to loyal customers who have bought previous or who buy quantity.

If you are interested please contact them directly. - Home - Curly Flat

"
Did you see that we have an offer in the latest Vine to Wine – you can get a magnum of Chardonnay, 2014 to 2018 for the price of a 750 ml bottle ($46) when you purchase a dozen CF Pinot or Chardonnay. Let me know if you are interested in this offer.

Releasing 2018 Pinots is a bright moment for me in these challenging days. I just love the 2018 Pinots (and Chardonnay) and I’ve been champing at the bit to offer the 2018 Pinots to our most loyal supporters. With reviews (shown at the foot of this email) published, they are ready to hit the road.

Matt Harrop took the reigns as Curly Flat's winemaker in October 2017. Matt has been incredibly hands on in all aspects of Curly Flat, and has spent many hours in the vineyard getting to know this special site. 2018, Matt's first vintage with us, was an exceptional vintage. With that in mind, I am absolutely thrilled to present our 2018 Pinot Noirs, including two new wines - 2018 Curly Flat Western and Central Pinot Noirs. Western is from the coolest part of the vineyard using clones 115 & 114 which generate a more delicate and perfumed wine. Central is from MV6 clone grown in the warmest part of the vineyard, giving rise to a more robust wine. Western and Central represent the opposite ends of the spectrum of what makes up the blend, 2018 Curly Flat Pinot. I find the comparison of these 3 wines fascinating and I hope you will intrigued to taste them.

I'll hand over to Matt to explain the genesis of these wines:

It became apparent very early on that vintage 2018 had delivered a near perfect expression of site. Each of our Pinot Noir ferments - 22 of them - were kept separate, from pressing through to MLF, racking and maturation. Watching these wines evolve, grow and mature in oak amplified the differences between the wines - aspect, clone, vine age, soil type, elevation, micro-climate - allowing Ben Kimmorley and I to make some blending decisions that have lead to these two new Pinot Noirs (Central and Western).
Central and Western are selections taken from two particular blocks in the vineyard – both having unique characteristics that we’ve been able to express in the finished wines. And while the 2018 Curly Flat Pinot Noir is clearly recognisable as the Curly Flat Pinot Noir you know, the Central and Western are our attempts at translating the geographic and geologic variation that are present here.
Central is taken from the 1992 plantings, our oldest vines. The 1992 block typically contributes darker and more brooding elements along with fine, waxy tannins to the Curly Flat blend.
Western, taken from the 1998 plantings, is fruit from our coolest blocks. The wines from these blocks display the red fruit, delicate aromatics, wonderfully pliant mid palate texture and fine-boned tannins of the Curly Flat blend.

These 2018 wines have all the hallmarks of the great Curly Flat vintages: power, finesse and longevity."


Only 130 dozen of the 2018 Western and Central Pinot Noirs were produced - they're not going to be available for very long. I am blessed that many people have been buying Curly Flat wine for a long time. I want to get these wines out to many of our loyal supporters. This month, I will be contacting our direct buyers to offer these wines (you’re in the first batch of offers!) If any wine remains, it will be offered more widely in the May newsletter. Western and Central Pinots will not be available on line, nor to either restaurants or retailers.
Western and Central Pinots cannot be purchased individually. The point of bottling Western and Central is for the comparison and they are therefore only offered in sets. You are welcome to take a set with 6 bottles of each, 4 bottles of each or 2 bottles of each. Each wine is $53 per bottle and the 10% discount (normally for orders of a dozen or more) has been applied to all sets. There are no purchase limits on the amount of 2018 Curly Flat Pinot (regular).
Set​
Bottles​
Price ω 10% disc​
6 of each​
18​
$858.60​
4 of each​
12​
$572.40​
2 of each​
6​
$286.20​
If you’d like to purchase a set of the 2018 Pinots, please reply to this email - it’s the only way to get these wines. I won’t be offended if you would rather pass on this one.
Warm regards



Recent Reviews
2018 Curly Flat Pinot Noir

Dried rose perfume in with some fresh mint, deep raspberry flavour, a little almond and vanilla, plus some spice. It’s ripe, but not overly so, with cool acidity, a dusting of graphite tannin, and a long biscuity finish. It’s generous in style, but keeps itself trim. I’m particularly tickled by the quality of tannin here. Excellent. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front 95 Points Drink : 2020 - 2028+

There’s whole bunch and skin contact at play here as well as wild yeasts but, really, it all adds up to a delightfully complex wine which is important to remember because this is a bare youngster. Approachable now with the fragrance of crushed red berries, musk, potpourri. The wine glides across the tongue leaving an impression that is both sweet-fruited, studded with lively red cherries, and don’t you just love that touch of pepper to close. Cool climate pinot to the very end.
Jeni Port , WinePilot 95 Points Drink: 2020 to 2028

2018 Curly Flat Western Pinot Noir
The Western block is from 1997 and 1998 plantings, has no new oak, and is made from 114 and 115 clones. It’s the latest ripening block, and typically produces finer, more aromatic wines. There’s a strong family resemblance to the Curly Flat 2018, though this wine is a little tighter and finer, with more pepper and spice, less oak, and perhaps less tannin. It’s red fruited, clean and clear, a bit meaty, light dusty tannin, a ‘minerally’ finish of precision and length. Nice one. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front 95 Points Drink : 2020 – 2030

2018 Curly Flat Central Pinot Noir
The Central bottling is from the oldest vines on the property, planted in 1992. It’s MV6 clone, has 25% new oak, and produces the most powerful wines on the estate.
Richer, more tannin, ripe raspberry, some mint and spiced biscuit, but slightly warmer and somewhat more diffuse than the other Curly wines released from 2018. Tannin and more meaty spicy flavours push out the finish. I like it, it’s just that I like it less than the other two. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front 93 Points Drink : 2020 - 2026+

Into the dark woods we go, surrounded by the scent of undergrowth, hummus, dark berries and dried herbs. There’s some serious intent delivered here in the glass. A top vintage, old vines (planted in 1992 and the vineyard’s oldest block) and power to burn all play a role. For the wine nuts, the Central block plantings are the most elevated on the property, 540 metres, and the popular pinot clone in Victoria, MV6, makes the biggest contribution. Colour is deepest crimson. Black cherry, blackberry and black tea – there is a theme happening here –they all rise from the glass together with the scent of earth and undergrowth. Where the flagship 2018 pinot noir from Curly Flat was sweet-fruited, this is savoury and brooding. The tannins are complicit in the savouriness. Central is one of three pinots made from the 2018 vintage, very individual and, to my mind, the most striking with an almost haunting finish. Jeni Port, WinePilot 95 Points
 
  • Lethbridge 2017 - MB/SC(HWC)95, CM(WF)94, NS93 - $19
  • Gembrook Hill 2017 - CM(WF)96, JH95 - $28

I ended up with the 2018 Gembrook Hill, but no complaints, still a great price. Lethbridge was 2017. Looking forward to trying both.
 
I ended up with the 2018 Gembrook Hill, but no complaints, still a great price. Lethbridge was 2017. Looking forward to trying both.

I also ended up with 6 x 2018 Gembrook. Just popped into a store with 2017 stock and swapped over 3. Happy to now have both vintages - according to the winery the 2018 has a tannin line not normally seen in their Pinots due to the lack of rain and how hard the vines had to work to find water. Take that for what you will but the 18s could be very age worthy pinots. 17s generally across the Yarra are exceptional though so worth getting some.
 
I also ended up with 6 x 2018 Gembrook. Just popped into a store with 2017 stock and swapped over 3. Happy to now have both vintages - according to the winery the 2018 has a tannin line not normally seen in their Pinots due to the lack of rain and how hard the vines had to work to find water. Take that for what you will but the 18s could be very age worthy pinots. 17s generally across the Yarra are exceptional though so worth getting some.

Yes, I perhaps should've kept a 2018 just to try, but didn't as I've found 2017 to be a better Yarra Valley vintage so far
 
Hi Pinot Noir experts - I've recently had a nice glass of Colterenzio St Daniel Pinot Nero at a restaurant. However, I haven't been able to find this wine in any retail shops. Does anyone have any recommendation for a wine that is similar in style and accessible in Australia, and ideally <$50?

thanks :)
 
Hi Pinot Noir experts - I've recently had a nice glass of Colterenzio St Daniel Pinot Nero at a restaurant. However, I haven't been able to find this wine in any retail shops ...
Recently, at a restaurant?

Perhaps you are currently trapped somewhere in Italy, slurping on the local vino. 😀
 
Chacra Cincuenta y Cinco 2018 - WA(LG)98, JS97 - $94.99/$99 @ My Wine Guy (less $30 voucher)



on sale again until tomorrow


Hoddles Creek 2019 has just been rated 94+pts by Gary Walsh, the highest ever vintage on Winefront - $22 @ Prince Wine Store & Summer Hill (price match @ Different Drop)

$21 @ Randall's


We decided to make Curly Flat Pinot and Chardonnay our "house wines" some years ago so I buy regularly each year. I just ordered an annual shipment for us and some friends and the lovely people from CF me an email with further details of some new wines. I spoke to them and they said I could post this to AFF.

Wow, nice house wines to have :) How often do you drink them and at what bottle age?

How do the 2018s compare with 2017, and earlier ones like 2012/2013? Has the style/development changed much with different winemakers?
 
Wow, nice house wines to have :) How often do you drink them and at what bottle age?

How do the 2018s compare with 2017, and earlier ones like 2012/2013? Has the style/development changed much with different winemakers?

"House Wines" Yes I know.:cool: That's where the 'W' in WP comes from you know. 😹

I buy a doz of each (sometimes more) a year then leave them for 1-8 years depending. Chardonnay 1-3 years, Pinot 3-8. Chardonnay is best after a year or more depending on vintage. The 2015s were the best IMHO followed by the 2017. The current 18 is loved by the winery and suggested as one of the best for some years, but seems disparate flavours in the only bottle I've tried. Quite acidic and a little sour at present with lots of separate flavours. I'll leave it for a year and see. Had a brilliant bottle of the 2009 Pinot (wine fridge) this week. Was exceptional.

The current top of the range "The Curly" 2015 is very good drinking atm.

Am looking fwd to end of lockdown when we can have a tasting afternoon with the new Central and Western individual vineyard Pinot bottlings.
 

4) To the reds: You like Burgundy, but it is a bit expensive for most of us. Try serious cru Beaujolais. I suggest the M-subregions: Moulin-à-vent or Morgon. Wines from there can be deep coloured and silky. Don’t be fooled by the Beaujolais Nouveau craze and the fact the grape is Gamay. These wines can be as good as Burgundies.

d’Or to Door have Jean-Paul Thevenet Morgon Tradition 2018 (GW94) for $45 (price-match @ Different Drop?)

Alternatively, WineStar have 24% off Dominique Piron Beaujolais Morgon Côte du Py 2018 (GW94) at $34.99 (price-match @ Different Drop)
 
4) To the reds: You like Burgundy, but it is a bit expensive for most of us. Try serious cru Beaujolais. I suggest the M-subregions: Moulin-à-vent or Morgon. Wines from there can be deep coloured and silky. Don’t be fooled by the Beaujolais Nouveau craze and the fact the grape is Gamay. These wines can be as good as Burgundies.

d’Or to Door have Jean-Paul Thevenet Morgon Tradition 2018 (GW94) for $45 (price-match @ Different Drop?)

Alternatively, WineStar have 24% off Dominique Piron Beaujolais Morgon Côte du Py 2018 (GW94) at $34.99 (price-match @ Different Drop)
na sorry. Gamay makes some nice wines, but they can’t approach a good Pinot! :cool:
 
Three of the Mornington Peninsulas top producers collaborate with mixed Six Packs.

Three family run wineries, Yabby Lake (Tuerong), Montalto (Red Hill) & Paringa Estate (Red Hill South) are joining forces to deliver a variety of top quality Pinot Noir to your door.

Can't make it to the Peninsula ? We have put together some of the regions most popular wines for you to enjoy in the comfort of your own home.

Also, for every pack purchased, you will go into a draw to WIN a 'Stay & Dine' Package at the Sorrento Hotel. Three packages given away during this promotion ending May 24th.

Current delivery times to Melbourne Metro & Mornington Peninsula are 2-3 days and 4-6 days interstate.
Peninsula Six Pack
Two Bottles each of the below​
2018 Paringa Estate 'Peninsula' Pinot Noir ""The lifted wine offers briary fruit dominated by fresh cherries, blueberries and complexing nutmeg spice. The palate is full, flavorsome and long with evident fine tannins.

2018 Yabby Lake 'Red Claw' Pinot Noir ""Characteristic perfumed, fragrant aromas highlighted by cherry and red berry fruits, a touch of spice and underlying French oak. The long, silky palate has a plush, velvety texture and a finely poised finish."

2018 Montalto 'Pennon Hill' Pinot Noir "Red currants, blueberry, sour cherry, cranberry and dried strawberry combine with florals, dried herbs, spice, and earthy forest-floor qualities. On the palate, generous juicy red fruits meld with bramble and earth.
'Special Site' Six Pack
Two bottles each of the below​
2017 Paringa Estate 'Estate' Pinot Noir ""It's no more than medium-weight in the glass, though loaded with aromatic punch: bunch and oak-spice, red licorice, wild strawberries wrapped in cloves. It carries more than enough fruit-weight and charm, sapid and ripe, raspberries front and centre. A beautiful pinot noir" The Real Review 96 Points, Nick Butler

2018 Yabby Lake 'Single Vineyard' Pinot Noir
"Multiple clones hand-picked and sorted, 25% whole bunches, gentle destemming, 13-15 days on skins, matured in French puncheons (25% new) for 11 months. Always perfectly balanced, has developed into an entrancing, delicately framed and poised wine with a silky mouthfeel and lingering aftertaste. Gold medal and runner up for the James Halliday Trophy for Best Pinot Noir Melbourne Wine Awards, gold medal Australian Pinot Noir Challenge." 97 Points, James Halliday

2018 Montalto Estate Pinot Noir
"It's all dark cherries and earth. Some dark plums and some pan juices tied together with sumptuous savoury notes from the use of whole bunches. Touches of herb with those twiggy things Pinot brings so well with blood orange hiding in the background. Beautifully balanced, give this a chance to breathe and it sings gorgeously with those savoury characters clutching on to what seems a never-ending finish. It's hard to fault Pinots like this - a fabulous wine. 95 Points, Steve Leszczynski
 
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Gary Walsh has now given 94pts to the 2019 Rochford Estate, which is currently $22.80 delivered in dozens as part of their 40% off Estate wines sale that ends this Wednesday (referrals)

Similarly recently rated 94pts, but this time by Mike Bennie, is Garagiste Le Stagiaire 2018 - $24.65 @ Different Drop using HOME (price-match @ Dan's or Prince Wine Store)

Thanks - also their 2017 Reserve (HH95, JO94) $70 singles, plus Seppelt Drumborg $31 6pk - 2016: JH95, MB91; 2017: JH96, CM(WF)93, HH91; 2018: CM(WF)92+ - I enjoyed the 2017 ($20 referrals)

CellarDoor.co currently have Seppelt Drumborg 2016/2017 for $25 until this Sunday - or $20.83 using MAYREWARD :)
 
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I ended up with the 2018 Gembrook Hill, but no complaints, still a great price. Lethbridge was 2017. Looking forward to trying both.

The 2018 Gembrook Hill is fantastic. If there is a strong tannin line as suggested it is very well balanced. Recently given 95 points by Campbell Mattinson (who gave the 2017 96 points). The Lethbridge is nice also but a heavier, dustier style, which for me is less distinctively pinot.
 

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