Bindi Block 8 Pinot Noir 2021

Bottom line first, when I first encountered this wine, I thought it the equal of any Pinot I had seen made in Australia. Looking again, I have no reason to alter that conclusion, at all. This is a brilliant wine. We will see releases from 2019 and 2020 in the years to come (’19 my pick of those two). Block 8 is 0.75 hectares, with close planting, around 11,300 vines/hectare, although there is a section at an amazing 22,600 vines/hectare, with seven clones. Production quantities are similar to Block 5. The wine spends almost a year and a half in French barrels, around half new. From a brilliant vintage, as we have surely seen, the wine is a vibrant and almost lurid purple. There is perhaps a hint more oak obvious here than in some of the other releases at this early stage, giving pleasing nutmeg notes. The wine is still extremely youthful with aromatics including black fruits, cassis, bergamot and blueberries. There is fine and quite vibrant acidity, knife-edge balance and stunning length. Showing early complexity, this will surely drink beautifully over the next ten to fifteen years. What a glorious Pinot.