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2014 Pinot noir94 Points - Wine Reviewer
This is the first release from Lyons Will Estate, and it’s impressive. A medium red in the glass with lighter hues towards the rim, on the nose you are met with cherry and rhubarb that benefits from subtle herbaceous and earthen notes, aromatic baking spices leave a lasting impression. The acid structure is impeccable and combines with fine and drying tannins to set this wine up for the long haul. In terms of fruit it sits on the dark cherry spectrum with touches of rhubarb and a savoury edge providing no end of interest. If this was the first attempt, i can’t wait to see future vintages. 90 Points - James Halliday From a 1.2ha estate vintage with three clones, hand-picked, crushed and cold-soaked before fermentation, matured in French barriques (35% new) for 15 months. A very powerful pinot with black cherry and plum fruit still in embryonic form, needing time. The total rupture of the membrane meant to encase the cork is unsettling, the points for the wine as it is now |
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2015 pinot noir95 Points - James Halliday
Estate-grown clones D5V12, D4V2 and 115, open-fermented, 14 days on skins, matured in French oak (33% new) for 16 months. Bright, clear crimson-purple; an altogether impressive wine, all its parts in alignment; the fragrant red flower aromas presage a red cherry, damson plum and spice palate. The wine glides along and across the mouth, fruit to the fore, but cedary oak makes a quiet statement as it joins with superfine tannins on the finish and aftertaste. 93 Points - Wine Reviewer A great follow up release to the inaugural 2014 release from this small Macedon Ranges producer. The wine gives a beautiful light red in the glass that is characteristic of the region. The nose shows dark cherry and rhubarb with a gentle minerality which is a nod to cool climate viticulture. A tightly bound wine at this point of its development with pristine dark cherry working alongside earthen notes and sage like spice. The palate is medium bodied with drying, sappy tannins that have just enough oak spice to provide richness and underwrite a long cellaring life. Finishes with tight, drying and long-lived dark cherry fruit, as well as dusting of spice. 89 Points - Wine Front Macedon pinot noir from vines now 20+ years old. It’s no shrinking violet and in varietal terms it has a real sense of impact. It’s essentially cranberried and red cherried though there’s a sweetness, almost a redcurrant note, which musky oak picks up and runs with. Mint notes play a role too, almost into spearmint. It’s a convincing wine if not quite an irrepressible one. |