Artis Pinot Noir 2021
- 92
- $49.99
- Drink by: 2022-2028
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A very fine Pinot from a single vineyard, the Jupiter Springs Vineyard, in the Kuitpo sub-region of the Adelaide Hills. 25 year old vines with a gentle eastern aspect. Maker Andrew Miller considers Pinot one of the more challenging varieties to work with and approaches it on the basis that ‘when you think your Pinot is ready to pick, it is already too late’. One quarter of the fruit goes to the bottom of small open fermenters with the remainder destemmed and placed on top. Native yeasts are used with fermentation taking three weeks before maturing in French oak hogsheads, 25% new, for 8 months. No fining or filtering.
A light crimson in colour with flecks of purple. The nose offers dry herbs, strawberry notes, a character like raspberry jellybeans, a whiff of cinnamon, all of which continues on the palate through to an appealing sour cherry finish. Silky smooth, well-structured with very fine tannins, this is bright and fresh with good length. Young, understandably, but from an excellent vintage, so one suspects that its best days are ahead of it, even though it is thoroughly enjoyable drinking now. Should improve and drink well for at least the next four to six years.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
