Pinotpalooza

it's been a three year layoff (thanks to the country being on fire and Covid) but here we are back again. An opportunity to take a snapshot of where the world of Pinot Noir is in Australia and (to a lesser extent) New Zealand.

Three years ago NZ was still ahead, Aus was catching up but still had issues with whole bunch...let's see what's changed...

• 2021 Heirloom Vineyards Pinot Noir Adelaide Hills

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

  Aromas of polished oak, sweet and savoury spice, fruit tea with a slight jubey red berry underpin. In the mouth it's borderline sour, quite dilute and wet with fruit tea notes. Meh.

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• 2021 Heirloom Vineyards Pinot Noir Alcazar Castle Adelaide Hills

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

  Again that polished oak note, red berry compote and this has more savoury than sweet spice on the nose. juicy, savoury fruit compote, textured grip, slight bitterness on the long finish which adds interest. Good.

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• 2021 Heirloom Vineyards Pinot Noir The Velvet Fog Adelaide Hills

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

  Medium minus intensity aromas of wild ferment, wild red berries...slightly sour, wild strawberry, slightly grippy texture...meh.

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• 2021 Shaw and Smith Pinot Noir

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

  Aromas of wild ferment, red over blackberries, meaty notes...medium plus intensity acidity, talc textured tannins, a sense of wetness, muted red over black fruits with a little alcohol warmth on the finish. Meh.

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• 2020 Tolpuddle Vineyard Pinot Noir

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  Wild ferment, jubey fruit; slight cherry, sweet and savoury spice, slight clay/earthy notes. In the mouth it's slightly sour, chalky textured tannins, muted red cherry fruit. Hmm.

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• 2021 Cloudbreak Wines Pinot Noir

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

  Slightly sour smelling red berry, oak spice, behind this some pretty jubey aromas. On the palate it's bold and savoury with red berries, oak spice, slight warmth, tight textured grip. young. Okay.

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• 2021 Tomich Wines Pinot Noir Woodside Vineyard

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

  Slightly sour red berry, a little washing up liquid notes, sweet spice. Sour, drying tannins, hard, four square. Nah.

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• 2021 Vinteloper Wines Pinot Noir Neonoir

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

  On the nose candied, slightly jammy red berry compote (carbo crush?). Tart red berry, textured burr, a little sharp. Meh

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• 2017 Vinteloper Wines Pinot Noir Odeon Lenswood

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Lenswood

  Polished oak, red over black berry fruit, sweet over savoury spice, some whole bunch ashiness. Medium plus intensity acidity, textured grip, muted fruit. Hmm.

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• 2021 Vinteloper Wines Pinot Noir

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

  Jubey, slight whole bunch, savoury spices. Juicy, less tart (but still a little sharp), red fruit, chalky textured. Hmm.

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• 2021 Lansdowne Vineyard Pinot Mac

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

  Jubey, wild berries, pretty, candied red berries, a little candy floss. Very carbonic maceration. And very carbonic maceration on the palate, a little textured burr, short, simple, nice.

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• 2021 Duxton Vineyards Pinot Noir Pete's Pure

  Australia, New South Wales / Victoria, Murray Darling

  Slightly jammy strawberry, fruit forward, more of the same on the palate, smidge of residual sugar? A bit of a tart...

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• 2019 Saint & Scholar Pinot Noir

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

  Slightly volatile, muted red berries, sweet spice. Medium plus intensity acidity, savoury, a little hard, tight tannins, lacks generosity. Meh.

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• 2017 Saint & Scholar Pinot Noir The Scholar's Soapbox

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

  Aromas show slight wood glue and volatility, meaty and savoury spice over red berry lozenges. On the palate it's all a bit sweet and sour. Meh.

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• 2019 De Salis Wines Pinot Noir Lofty - Blue Label

  Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange

  Polished oak, ripe red over black fruit. On the palate there is alcohol warmth, tight fine textured tannins over black fruits.

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• 2019 De Salis Wines Pinot Noir Lofty

  Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange

  Slight wood glue, meaty, raspberry. Juicy, slight alcohol, raspberry, fine grain tannins.

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• 2019 De Salis Wines Pinot Noir Lofty - Red Label

  Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange

  Cranberry, meaty, wild ferment, with time some jubey red and black fruit. Acid, textured tannins, red berried fruit, slight alcohol warmth, balanced. Good.

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• 2019 De Salis Wines Pinot Noir

  Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange

  Tomato leaf, meaty, jubey. Juicy acid tends to sour, talc textured are drying, muted fruit. Hmm.

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• 2021 Gilbert Family Wines Pinot Noir

  Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Mudgee

  Raspberry, wild glue. In the mouth it's juicy, tight textured, red berry but dilute. a bit meh for me.

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• 2021 Gilbert Family Wines Pinot Noir Nashdale

  Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange

  Whole bunch ashiness, red berries and cherries, sweet spice. Medium plus acid, wet, dilute, medium minus intensity chalky tannins. Meh.

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• 2019 M&J Becker Pinot Noir The State of Jefferson

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Aromas of cola, red cherry, savoury, wild ferment. Juicy, slightly savoury, cherry cola, softly textured, alcohol warmth. Hmm.

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• 2019 M&J Becker Pinot Noir

  USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County

  Pretty, jubey, cherry, slight sweet spice, slight oak. Medium plus intensity acidity, talc textured tannins, savoury, cherry, slight alcohol but balanced and nice.

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• 2019 Quealy Pinot Noir Balnarring Campbell & Christine

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula

  Medium minus intensity aromas, very slight wood glue & volatility, red fruit - cherry and berry, savoury, slight whole bunch. Medium plus intensity acidity prove slightly sour, chalky tannins are tight. Time may help but the volatility is a concern.

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• 2020 Quealy Pinot Noir Musk Creek Balnarring

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula

  Red cherry & berry, earth and chalky, slightly jubey, slightly sour, jubey red fruit, slightly chalky textured tannins, closed. Okay.

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• 2019 Quealy Pinot Noir Seventeen Rows Balnarring

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula

  Very slight wood glue, wild red cherry, slight sweet spice, savoury, wild ferment. Concentrated with tight tannins, savoury red cherry fruit. Time required here.

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• 2021 Kooyong Pinot Noir Estate

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula

  slight wood glue, sweet spice red berry over cherry. Slight sour and bitter, not much else. Nah.

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• 2021 Port Phillip Estate Pinot Noir Red Hill

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula

  Very slight wild ferment, spicy, gamey, red berries prove a little jubey. In the mouth, though, it's rather sour and bitter with quite drying tannins. Nope.

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• 2021 Port Phillip Estate Pinot Noir Quartier

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula

  Pretty red berry, struck match, sweet spice. Very slight sour with red berry fruits, medium minus intensity chalky texture. Hmm.

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• 2018 Handpicked Pinot Noir

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  Concentrated dark fruits especially blackberry, savoury spice. Juicy, dense, concentrated black fruit compote, talc textured tannins, balanced, good.

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• 2019 Handpicked Pinot Noir Collection Mornington Peninsula

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula

  Slight struck match, cherry, slight savoury underpin, very slightly volatile as well. Juicy, fleshy, concentrated fruit, talc textured tannins, nice.

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• 2019 Handpicked Pinot Noir Collection Tasmania

  Australia, Tasmania

  medium minus intensity aromas show savoury with wood glue, muted, slightly anonymous fruit...palate reflects this; tart/hard. Nah.

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• 2019 Handpicked Pinot Noir Collection Yarra Valley

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Savoury with wild ferment, muted fruit, a smidge of volatility starts to show with time in the glass. Juicy, slightly sour but with more fruit on the palate, savoury and fleshy. Okay.

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• 2019 Handpicked Pinot Noir 37 Regional Selections Yarra Valley

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Savoury, earhty, wet clay, slight butter, cream, wild strawberry. A little textured burr and it's quite tight on the palate which rather dominates proceedings. Hmm.

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• 2019 Clyde Park Pinot Noir

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Geelong

  Savoury, wild ferment, meaty, muted fruit. A little savoury on the palate as well with chalky texture, alcohol warmth, muted fruit. Hmm.

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• 2021 Clyde Park Pinot Noir Locale

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Geelong

  Fruit forward, jubey berry, a little spice. Tart, savoury, muted fruit. Hmm

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• 2020 Clyde Park Pinot Noir Block D

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Geelong

  medium minus intensity aromas of wood glue, savoury meaty notes, red berry fruit. Chewy without being too tannic, a little dilute with red berry fruit. Hmm.

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• 2019 Gladstone Vineyard Pinot Noir

  New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa

  Savoury spice, muted fruit, slightly jubey, sweet spice. Juicy, black fruits, talc textured tannins, sweet spice, slight alcohol warmth. Okay

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• 2018 Gladstone Vineyard Pinot Noir Blairpatrick

  New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa

  Slight volatility and wood glue masks the nose. volatile on the palate as well with tight tannins and a little red plum. Wild ferment gone wrong over time?

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• 2019 Gladstone Vineyard Pinot Noir Dakins Road

  New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa

  Concentrated black cherry over berries, sweet spice and polished oak. Equally concentrated on the palate, savoury with similar black fruits as per the nose as well as a little plum. Nice

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• 2019 Gladstone Vineyard Pinot Noir The Flying Winemaker

  New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa

  Medium minus intensity show as slight red berry, very slight volatility. Tightly textured, muted fruit, meh.

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• 2020 Escarpment Pinot Noir Pahi

  New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough

  Wild ferment, earth, blackberry, very slightly jubey and very savoury. Blackbery fruit 'pops' on the palate, beneath this talc textured tannins offer a little drying quality. Nice.

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• 2020 Escarpment Noir

  New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough

  Savoury, meaty notes hides fruit, cream and sweet spice notes. Juicy, savoury, black fruits and fruit tea, wetly dilute, a little earthy note. Okay

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• 2018 Escarpment Pinot Noir

  New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough

  Berry, meaty, wild ferment and wood glue. Medium plus intensity acidity, talc textured tannins, muted fruit. Meh.

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• 2016 Escarpment Pinot Noir Te Rehua

  New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough

  Savoury, meaty, blackberry, earth, sweet and savoury spices in support. Juicy, slight wood glue, forward with muted fruit, slightly reductive notes, talc textured tannins are drying. Alcohol warmth. Hmm.

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• 2019 Craggy Range Pinot Noir Aroha

  New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough

  Polished oak, wood glue, slight volatility, red cherry. Sour. Very unpleasant on the palate. How disappointing.

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• 2019 Craggy Range Pinot Noir Martinborough

  New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough

  Earthy, slightly jubey, dark hued, savoury, slight whole bunch ashiness. Juicy, wet, very slightly sour, wild blackcurrant, talc textured. Hmm

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• 2018 Craggy Range Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Te Muna Road Vineyard

  New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough

  Savoury, sweet oak spice, red and black cherry...in the mouth it's a little wet and slightly dilute, chalky tannins, muted fruit. Meh.

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• 2021 Charteris Le Fauve Rouge

  Australia, New South Wales

  Pretty, jubey, savoury red berries. Sourly juicy, tightly textured, muted fruit, Nah.

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• 2014 Charteris Pinot Noir Central Otago

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  Wild ferment, gamey, savoury spice, red over black fruit. Chewy tannins are talc textured, alcohol warmth. Hmm

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• 2013 Charteris Pinot Noir The Winter Vineyard

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  Wild ferment, red berry fruit smells slightly sour - but it could be the smidge of volatility. Juicy, sweet and sour flavours, talc textured tannins. Nah.

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• 2015 Amisfield Pinot Noir

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  Gamey rich, black berry and cherry, sweet oaky spice, slight wild ferment. Juicy very slight sour, tightly textured tannins, wild black fruits. Nice.

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• 2020 Amisfield Pinot Noir

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  Slight gamey, red cherry over black hued fruits, sweet spice. Borderline sour, lots of tannic grip that proves chalky and drying but also some red cherry and blackberry. Time should help.

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• 2019 Amisfield Pinot Noir Breakneck Reserve

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  Initially jubey on the nose with black cherry, sweet spice, slight bonfire and struck match. Juicy, savoury, fruit and tannins work together and very slight alcohol warmth. Balanced. Good.

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• 2020 Giant Steps Pinot Noir Fatal Shore

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  Medium minus intensity aromas show slightly gamey, red berries, sweet spice. Chalky textured tannic grip with a grainy underpin, red berries again. Okay.

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• 2021 Giant Steps Pinot Noir

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Gamey, slightly meaty, wild ferment, slightly pretty jubey fruit lozenge underpin. On the palate it's tart with tight tannins and not much else. not showing well today.

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• 2019 Oakridge Pinot Noir

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Struck match, sweet spice, red over black berry fruit, wild ferment. Slightly savoury, talc textured tannins more red than black fruit on the palate. Okay.

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• 2020 Oakridge Pinot Noir Hazeldene Vineyard Yarra Valley

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Slightly jubey, a touch of candy floss over red berry. Juicy, jubey, simple, slightly talc textured tannins. Okay

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• 2020 Oakridge Pinot Noir Vineyard Series Willowlake Vineyard

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Polished, jubey red fruit, though it smells quite lightweight. Wetly dilute on the palate with talc textured burr. Meh.

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• 2020 Oakridge Pinot Noir Vineyard Series Henk's Vineyard

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Wild ferment, smells tight, very slight struck match, muted red fruit. Juicy tends to sour acidity, muted red fruit. slight, lightweight, silky tannins are not dominant. Hmm.

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• 2021 Pacha Mama Pinot Noir Yarra Valley

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Pretty, blackberry and plum, sweet spice, slightly jubey. Juicy acidity tends to medium plus intensity, talc textured tannic burr, fruit slightly muted. It's little bit elbows on the palate but time should help.

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• 2020 Rob Dolan Pinot Noir Black Label

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Smells quite MV6 initially, plums, sweet spice, very slight wild ferment with a smidge of wood glue. Medium plus intensity acidity, slightly chalky tannins, slightly plummy fruit, medium plus length. Okay

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• 2020 Rob Dolan Pinot Noir True Colours

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Slightly wet, dilute and gamey, fruit tea. Juicy, medium plus intensity acidity, red berry, talc textured tannins prove drying. the components are there but...it's not quite there

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• 2020 Rob Dolan Pinot Noir White Label

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Wild ferment, savoury, slightly gamey, red over black fruits. On the palate the fruits are reversed with the black hued berries and plums taking precedent. Palate feel is juicy and fleshy, a touch of fruit lozenge on the long finish. Nice.

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• 2020 Save Our Souls Pinot Noir

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula

  Medium minus intensity aromas of biscuit/toast, muted red berries, slight earthy/clay notes. In the mouth it's sharply sour, red hued fruit, chalky tannins. Feels quite unripe. Nah.

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• 2020 Save Our Souls Pinot Noir Syme on Yarra

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Wood glue and wild ferment, jubey, whole bunch, meaty red fruit. Muted fruit on the palate, drying talc textured tannins. Hmm.

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• 2021 Yering Station Pinot Noir Little Yering

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Pretty jubey red berry over cherry, alcohol prickle, fruit forward on the nose. In the mouth it is juicy and equally fruit forward, slightly textured grip, simple, clean, good.

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• 2020 Yering Station Pinot Noir Village

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Medium minus intensity aromas of savoury spice, black over red berry. Juicy, savoury, concentrated, more black over red and plum, talc textured tannins. Okay.

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• 2021 Yering Station Pinot Noir

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Savoury and sweet spice, fruit tea, sour blackberry, slightly jubey and meaty. Juicy, fleshy, concentrated blackberry, long. Nice.

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• 2019 Yering Station Pinot Noir Laura Barnes Pinot Noir

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Cherry, clay, earth, sweet spice, muted black fruit in support. Sourly juicy, red over black fruit, not for me.

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• 2018 Moondarra Pinot Noir Conception

  Australia, Victoria, Gippsland

  Slight caramel oak, sweet spice, slightly dusty notes, red over black plum fruit. Juicy, slightly sour, again that caramel oak over red fruit with some chalky tannins in support. Meh.

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• 2017 Moondarra Pinot Noir Samba Side

  Australia, Victoria, Gippsland

  Oak dominant; toast, caramel, sweet spice, muted red fruit. Again it's sourly juicy, woody tannins, caramel and alcohol, muted fruit. Meh

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• 2021 Moondarra Pinot Noir Studebaker

  Australia, Victoria, Gippsland

  Whole bunch - ashy notes especially, over jubey red berry fruit. Sourly juicy, jubey red fruit, slightly chalky tannins, time required but this is quite nice.

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• 2020 Fowles Wine / Plunkett Fowles Pinot Noir Are you Game?

  Australia, Victoria, Strathbogie Ranges

  Slightly smoky with red berry and cherry, sweet and savoury spice. Slight sour, tight tannic burr which is persistent. Red fruit. Hmm.

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• 2020 Fowles Wine Pinot Noir Farm to Table

  Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Nagambie Lakes

  Again slightly smoky and some leather, earthy, muted fruit. In the mouth though it's quite sweet and sour. Meh.

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• 2021 Fowles Wine / Plunkett Fowles Pinot Noir Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch

  Australia, Victoria, Strathbogie Ranges

  Very slightly gamey, sweet spice, anonymous red fruit. Juicy, wet, fruit tea, slightly cherry, gamey. Meh.

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• 2015 Spring Vale Pinot Noir Cellar Release

  Australia, Tasmania, Freycinet Coast

  Claym, red berry, slight struck match/bacon fat, very slightly jubey. Juicy, soft, red cherry, whole bunch but controlled. Balanced. Good

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• 2019 Spring Vale Pinot Noir

  Australia, Tasmania, Freycinet Coast

  Clay, red berry slight struck match, bacon fat, very slightly jubey with wild ferment. Jubey, fruit forward, slight burr, simple, needs time to come together.

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• 2018 Spring Vale Pinot Noir Family Selection

  Australia, Tasmania, Freycinet Coast

  Polished oak, red over black fruit, wild ferment and slight whole bunch and some jubey notes. Equally polished on the palate, medium plus length, flavours as per nose. Nice.

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• 2019 Pipers Brook Vineyard Pinot Noir New Certan

  Australia, Tasmania

  Gamey, wild ferment, pretty, jubey but with a slight cardboard note, red berry, sweet spice, sourly juicy, red fruit. Meh for me.

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• 2020 Pipers Brook Vineyard Pinot Noir Estate

  Australia, Tasmania

  Wild ferment, red berry, funky, sourly juicy, red berry, chalky tannins. Nah.

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• 2021 Pipers Brook Vineyard Pinot Noir Pipers

  Australia, Tasmania

  Struck match, red berry, gamey and an odd crushed insect note. Carbonic maceration, pretty but the palate is a bit chalky and unpleasant. Meh.

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• 2018 Pipers Brook Vineyard Pinot Noir Estate

  Australia, Tasmania

  From Magnum. Slight wood glue, wild ferment, red berry, meaty. Sourly juicy, tight chalky tannins, red berries. <shrugs>

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• 2020 Tamar Ridge Pinot Noir

  Australia, Tasmania

  Medium minus intensity aromas of red berry and cherry, sweet spice, simple nose. medium pus intensity acidity, grainy tannins tend to chalky and dominate the palate. Meh

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• 2020 Tamar Ridge Pinot Noir Research Series Kayena Vineyard

  Australia, Tasmania

  Slightly jubey red cherry, medium minus intensity sweet spice aromas, slight whole bunch. Juicy, fleshy wetly dilute with fruit tea note. It's kind of interesting.

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• 2021 Meadowbank Estate Pinot Noir

  Australia, Tasmania

  Struck match, red cherry over black, sweet spice. Juicy, savoury red over black cherry, tight chalky tannins, okay. Time.

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• 2021 Hughes & Hughes Pinot Noir

  Australia, Tasmania, Southern Tasmania

  Clean but with wild ferment, gamey, red cherry. Juicy, very slightly sour, clean, red berry, slightly chalky tannins. Hmm.

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• 2020 Mewstone Pinot Noir D'Entrecasteaux Channel

  Australia, Tasmania, Southern Tasmania

  Reductive, struck match, red berry and cherry, sweet spice. Very slightly sour, juicy, red berry talc textured tannins. Okay in a light way.

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• 2021 Hughes & Hughes Pinot Noir Pied de Cuvée Derwent Valley

  Australia, Tasmania, Southern Tasmania

  Ashy, whole bunch present but controlled. Red berry, jubey, savoury. Ashy, juicy, sour red berry, chalky tannins, dry. Hmm. Time.

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• 2016 Domaine A Pinot Noir

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  Wood glue dominates. Awful nose says "don't put me in your mouth". I obey.

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• 2016 Moorilla Pinot Noir Muse

  Australia, Tasmania

  Medium plus intensity aromas show gamey, red over black plum, sweet spice. Juicy, concentrated, tight tannins, plummy fruit. Dense. Okay in a big way.

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• 2019 Moorilla Pinot Noir Praxis

  Australia, Tasmania

  Black plums, sweet spice, smells dense. On the palate it has sour black fruits, chalky tannins dominate. Meh.

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What a lot of fun! I managed to get through 95% of the Pinots on taste so gave myself a pat on the back (and four cleansing ales).

The news for me was that Australia is still lagging slightly to NZ but has resolved its whole bunch issues - lots of people are using whole bunch but to a lesser extent and with more control. Very impressive. The same cannot be said for wild ferment unfortunately - quite a few wines here were showing either volatility or wood glue notes which, based on historic tasting, means that these wines will fall apart over a few years.

Let's see what happens next year.