Bellbrae Estate Bird Rock Pinot Noir 2024
- 93
- $55
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Woody spice, earthy tones and subdued fruit lead — paperbark, white tobacco, white cherry, crushed stalk, nutmeg, pine needle and a glimmer of dried violet — before a plume of dark cherry and just-ripe plum builds to fill things out. With a good swirl, it all clicks into place, though the woody spice remains prominent. The palate is buoyant and lifted, gliding through with sappy dark cherry and plum over nutmeg, white tobacco, stemminess and a flicker of clove. Firm-but-fine-grained chalky tannins and fresh acidity bring it home to good length, with bitter cacao nib tones on the finish. There’s some real class here, and it will fill out nicely with time. Decant now for maximum enjoyment.
Tom Kline is a wine writer, reviewer, presenter, and educator based in Victoria, Australia. He is the Australian correspondent for the internationally respected publications Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy and Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux, where he highlights the top tier of Australian wine for a global audience. Tom also writes for leading outlets including Decanter (UK), Wine Spectator (US), and Halliday Magazine, among others. An experienced wine show judge and WSET educator, he has authored several consumer-focused wine courses aimed at making wine more accessible and engaging. In 2023, Tom was awarded Best Published Feature Article or Wine Column at the prestigious Wine Communicator Awards, presented by Wine Communicators of Australia.
