De Bortoli Riorret The Abbey Pinot Noir 2020

De Bortoli Riorret The Abbey Pinot Noir 2020. Burgundy via the Yarra Valley.

Why doesn’t De Bortoli get the love for Yarra Pinot? The wines are uniformly great; why do they slip below the radar?

This De Bortoli Riorret The Abbey Pinot Noir 2020 is a deadly serious release, too, with a structure you’d see in classic Burgundy, not modern Yarra Valley. Hello, tannins! It smells correct too, with a strawberry raspberry juice red fruit nose and a little ferny undergrowth. The palate is a ride between rather gruff tannins and this concentration that is so welcome. It’s a powerhouse red but so comfortable in its Pinosity – all dark fruit and a gentle meaty edge. Not an easy Pinot – not silky and light – but that’s the appeal. I dig it.

Actually, the only thing subpar here is my terrible bottle photo. Did I mention that black bottles are hard?

Best drinking: it’s going to get better over the next few years, but already great. 18.5/20, 94/100. 13.5%, $45. De Bortoli website. Would I buy it? Sure would.

Andrew Graham Avatar

Andrew Graham was once voted the 23rd most trusted wine critic on the planet. A WCA Journalism Young Gun now old hack with 25yrs as a buyer, judge, journalist, marketer and too much more.

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