Castle Rock A&W Pinot Noir 2023
- 95
- $57
- Drink by: 2024-2034
Share
This is the Castle Rock prestige Pinot, named in honour of Rob Diletti’s parents, Angelo and Wendy, who planted Pinot at Porongurup back in 1986. These vines provide the fruit for this wine. The wine matures in French oak for ten months, 18% of which is new, incorporating 27% whole bunches. A selection is then made of the very best to create this wine. A stunning garnet colour and even at this early stage, there is good complexity here. A wine of impressive length, through to silky tannins, and fine balance. The nose exhibits red fruits, plums, beefstock notes, cherries and a hint of aniseed. Lovely spicy notes with a flick of well-integrated oak and the hint of a chalky backing. It will provide immense pleasure over the next six to ten years and will improve even further over that period.
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.
