Ben says
★★ Great Wine “Beautifully ruby in colour. Raspberry-like on the nose with berry and pomegranate aromas. Aromatically bright, it’s poised and elegant in the mouth with a line of velvet-like fruit that’s linear and youthful, with just a nod here and there to spice and soy layers of flavour that hint towards its future development into something truly exciting. It has a long, sweetly perfumed finish. A very exciting Pinot Noir, even in its youth.“
KEY POINTS
Varietal Pinot Noir with 13.3% abv. Harvested in March after a cool vintage by hand from the Henk vineyard vineyard in the Aqueduct block on the red volcanic soils of the Woori Yallock. The vines were planted in 2008. Open fermented with 20% whole bunch clusters. Wild yeast natural fermentation for 21 days in French oak, 10% new. Aged in oak on lees for 10 months before a further 6 months in stainless steel tank before bottling and release.
Grown in: Yarra Valley, Victoria, South AUSTRALIA.
Food Pairing
As I’ve mentioned many times on these notes, a great Pinot Noir will go with almost anything. I love a youthful Pinot like this with umami flavours where the fruitiness of the wine can offset the saltiness of the food. From mushroom-miso Asian dishes to charred red meats, this single block Pinot will work wonders.
Disclosure & Price
Tasted during a cellar door tasting flight at the vineyard, fully paid for. Find for circa $96 AUD, older vintages available in the UK from Shelved Wine for circa £50.
Reviewed and tasted: 27/03/2024
About the Producer
Oakridge Wines started in the Yarra Valley’s expansion in the 1970s with Horst “Jim” Zitzlaff planting vines on a four hectare cherry orchard in Wandin East, which later became the Five Oaks Vineyard block.
Oakridge made its name for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines, and moved its production to the Coldstream in 1998. The Zitlaffs sold to Evans & Tate, who employed winemaker David Bicknell in 2002, who continues to run the operation today. Bicknell has continued to work at Oakridge under the D’Aloisio and Atlas families between 2007 and 2021 and since 2021 under Paragon Wine Estates. The vineyard is managed by chief viticulturist Steve Faulkner. Today Oakridge produces a wide range of wines, including its top label 864 Block, which has been lauded by critics like Halliday.
