Southern Light Vineyards Ghostgum Pinot Noir 2022

Pitiful yields in ’22 meant Anthony Fikkers made the wine he liked the best: fruit off four blocks, four clones, fermented as one with 10% whole bunches, which still packs a punch; 10 months in French hogsheads, 20% new. It’s such an intriguing wine. An austere style, which is totally legit, full of sichuan pepper, poached rhubarb, a little ashy and stemmy, plus an array of cherry accents. There’s also a strong chinotto flavour with salted, dried Chinese plums. Mid-weighted, a fineness to the tannins, the palate awash with sweet-ish fruit, which offsets the charred radicchio/bitter finish. It will only garner more complexity with age. Points: 93/100

James Halliday Wine Companion 2025, 7 August, 2024 ∙ 31st Aug 2024

The four blocks of Pinot Noir were planted between 1994 and 2021. Cropping is deliberately kept extremely low to encourage intensity and complexity. Fermentation includes 10% whole bunches for two blocks, 100% for another and completely destemmed for the final block. The final wine averaged 12 days on skins and spent ten months maturing in French oak hogsheads. An appealing crimson red hue here, the nose displays some undergrowth notes with a little briar and earthiness. We have aromas of animal skins, cherries, florals, nutmeg, cinnamon and a tiny touch of oak. A wine of finesse and elegance, this is pristine  with a seductive texture, silky tannins and a lingering finish with excellent length. A cracking Pinot for enjoying over the next four to eight years. Points: 94/100

Wine Pilot ∙ 26th Jul 2024