Coldstream Hills was established in 1985 by James and Suzanne Halliday and has since grown to become one of Australia's leading and most awarded small wineries.
A triumphant return for our Reserve Pinot Noir – this release has been well worth the wait. Handpicked fruit from estate blocks, including the low yielding Amphitheatre A Block, planted in 1985. Dark cherry and plum notes enhanced by subtle French oak and chalky, persistent tannins. A lingering finish and delicate balance round out this Reserve release and a long future seems assured.
Varietal | Pinot Noir |
---|---|
Vintage | 2020 |
Country | Australia |
Region | Yarra Valley |
Volume | 750 mL |
Closure | Screw Cap |
Alc/Vol | 13% |
Peak Drinking | Now - 2033 |
Winemaker | Andrew Fleming |
97 Points | Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion 2023 |
96 Points | Ray Jordan |
96 Points | Ken Gargett |
97 Points | Philip Rich |
93 Points | Mike Bennie |
Bronze | 2022 Yarra Valley Wine Show |
"This comes from two excellent blocks within the Coldstream Hill vineyards. It’s a wine that shows distinctly more oak influence, but the power and weight of the fruit demands it. More earthy notes here with lots of dark fruit characters especially on the nose. The palate has a rich texture for the medium body, with tannins that are firm and slightly sinewy. It’s a bold statement with elegance." - Ray Jordan
"Silky, satiny, sour cherry and fresh herb-led pinot noir. Quiet and understated in a way but comes through with blood orange tang and rosy, rose hip tea characters very bright through the finish. Tense, taut, glossy then shaped with a lacy finish of fine, silty tannins. Lots of charisma here. Refined, regal pinot." - Mike Bennie
Vibrant and brooding with dark cherry characters, earthy mineral notes, whole bunch spice and subtle French oak
Highlighting the structure of G Block and the perfume of A Block, the palate displays attractive cherry liqueur notes interwoven with earthy mineral notes and finely tuned French oak. Vibrant and plush, the wine has great length and finishes with its characteristically grainy tannin signature.
Cooler than Bordeaux yet warmer than Burgundy, picturesque Yarra Valley is one of Australia's foremost cool-climate wine regions. An easy one-hour’s drive from Melbourne, the area is home to more than 80 cellar doors. In addition to the huge range of wineries, the area boasts superb contemporary restaurants, authentic rustic farms - and luxury overnight accommodation if the sightseeing gets too much! The fertile Yarra Valley soils produce famously elegant and textured Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Vintage Conditions
A warm start to Spring with above average rainfall led to good vegetative growth. Bunch numbers were average, but dry conditions in December appear to have checked berry development. Relatively mild to cool conditions ensued throughout the ripening period, allowing gradual flavour development and sugar accumulation. A sequence of rainfall events required extra vigilance in the vineyards, but fruit quality in the main was excellent. Yields were generally lower than average, with tiny bunches seen across many vineyard sites.
Growing up in wine country Mildura, at just 13 years of age, Andrew attempted to make his own wine; the end result was undrinkable, his father’s shed a shambles, but the winemaking seed was sown.
After completing a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of Melbourne, Andrew spent two years at Mildara in Coonawarra before heading to Bordeaux where he furthered his winemaking qualifications with a Diplome National d’Oenologue from the University of Bordeaux. Since then he’s completed vintages at the iconic Chateau Haut Brion in Bordeaux, several vintages in Languedoc, in addition to completing a vintage at Matanzas Creek winery in California’s Sonoma Valley. For six years Andrew was a Winemaker at Lindeman’s Karadoc winery and in 1996, became the Winery Manager of Seppelt in Great Western; providing the perfect segue for his current role as Chief Winemaker Coldstream Hills which he has held since 2001.