Review: Rouleur Strawberry Fields Pinot Meunier 2020

I’m very here for the rash of new varietal Pinot Meunier releases. This Rouleur Strawberry Fields Pinot Meunier 2020 is such a drinkable wine too, with charisma aplenty.

I’ve covered off plenty of Matt East’s Rouleur wines for years now, with the Pinot Noir taking a particularly starring role. This is the first Meunier though, sourced off a block at Silvan in the Upper Yarra. A plot of just 1 acre, it’s tough to pick, but as Matt says “this fruit is fun to work with – what’s not to love about playing with new grape varieties?!”

This smells unreal. Strawberries, leafy edges, a hint of mint. Rosehip tea by Matt’s notes which I really like too. The aim here was a lighter style “something easy, pretty and a little bunch” while “letting the Meunier be just varietal”.

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It’s hard to believe, but ultimately 2020 was a cool and relatively slow vintage in the Upper Yarra, with Matt waiting and waiting for this Meunier to ripen. It’s a delicate style too, gently fruity and incredibly pretty light red, effortless, varietal and silken. The whole bunches do give this some stemmy influences, but combined with the beautiful fruit it just adds a dimension.

Ultimately, this is a lovely drink-now red. A wine of delicacy, light touch and vivacity. It’s not wildly concentrated or notably complex. But certainly a nice wine.

Best drinking: nowish to capture that fruit. 17.7/20, 92/100. 13.1%, $30.60 direct. Rouleur website. Would I buy it? Worth a few glasses.