I went to a trade/media lunch yesterday with Rob Diletti from Castle Rock, and this 2023 Pinot was a standout.
Actually, there were plenty of smart wines poured yesterday, but the Pinot lineup is the really exciting bit. As I documented here, Rob has spent a lot of energy in the vineyard/winery to nail Pinot Noir (lots of ‘1 percenters’ apparently), and it shows. It’s especially noticeable in a region (Porongurup) that has no right to make quality Pinot (it’s Riesling country). Indeed, delicacy is the most remarkable thing about this 2023 Estate Pinot, with lovely red vibrant raspberry fruit and silken edges.
You know what else was delicious? The Castle Rock Riesling 2008 that Rob pulled out of the ice bucket late in the piece. From a vintage that Rob wasn’t excited about at the time, but in hindsight, it was perfect, and the ’08 looks rudely youthful. I found myself hunting through the ice bucket after to triple-check it was 2008, not 2018. Lightly toasty, sure, but the line of strident, still-primary grapefruity fruit was just so welcome and delicious. Gold medal quality juice.
Anyway, back to the Pinot. It’s light and lightly minty but not underpowered (which is welcome for a 12.5% alcohol wine) and quite effortless. I want a bit more tannins, but that could also be the compromise for brightness and deliciousness. Hard to deny the appeal of this Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir 2023, regardless.
- Best drinking: now and for the next five years.
- Score (out of 20): 18
- Score (out of 100): 93
- Alcohol %: 12.5
- RRP (in $AUD): 44
- Winery website: https://castlerockestate.com.au/
- Would I buy it?: worth a few glasses easy
THE VERDICT
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