Ah, seduction. So often, there is more pleasure in the non-flagship Pinot Noir wines. It even happens in Burgundy, where Grand Cru wines try too hard (and Chablis, for that matter). This Tarrawarra Pinot Noir 2021 is at the affordable end of the Tarrawarra Pinot range, and it’s such a Yarra pleasure machine. Dark ruby fruit, with this cherry and mushroom roundness that is succulent and ripe, with quite grand Pinosity. There’s just a little dry red rawness to finish, but it doesn’t hinder the joy.

THE VERDICT

• Best drinking: nowish
• Score (out of 20): 18
• Score (out of 100): 93
• Alcohol %: 13.4
• RRP (in $AUD): 40
• Winery website: https://www.tarrawarra.com.au/
• Would I buy it?: I’d drink most of a bottle easy