Last Horizon Tamar Valley Pinot Noir

Last Horizon Pinot Noir 2012 (Tamar Valley, Tas)
13%, Screwcap, $23
Source: Sample
www.echelonwine.com.au

The 2011 version of this wine was a superhero, taking out multiple trophies and winning hearts and minds all around the place. I wasn’t as much of a fan, finding it just a little one dimensional and simple. Such differences in opinion, however, are what makes wine great, and indeed I think I’ll be just one of many confessing their like of this 2012 version.

Produced by Mcwilliams fine wine/negociant arm Echelon, this was crafted by the more than capable Adrian Sparks using fruit from 15-20 year old vines. With minimal sulphur additions, open fermenters and no fining or filtering, this is made with a detail not typically found in under $25 Pinots (and is all the better for it).

Part of the reason why I like this ’12 much more is that the fruit ripeness looks more even, the palate line more constant. Lots of juicy black cherry and glace plum fruits on the nose, yet without excess sweetness (just fruit). The primal nature of its extreme youth is seen in the forward, bright exuberance of the black fruited palate, with complexity the only casualty, everything rounded out with relatively light tannins.

Put simply, this is genuine in every facet, a wine that tastes much more expensive than it is.

Drink: 2012-2016
Score: 17.5/20 91/100+
Would I buy it? Yes. Widely distributed this would be an easy option on a random wine list.