Castle Rock Porongurup A&W Pinot Noir 2024
- 95
- $60
- Drink by: 2025-2033
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This is named after Rob’s parents, Angelo and Wendy, the founders of Castle Rock. They planted the first vines in 1986 and the fruit for this wine comes from those vines. Maturation was in French oak (17% new) with a further ten months on lees following. 25% whole bunches are used. Deep garnet in colour, this is the most refined and elegant Pinot of the CR trio. Love it. Elegant it may be a bit, even so, it also gives a nod to the savoury side. Fragrant cherries, sage, exotic spices, leaf litter and animal fur here, with a hint of Kirsch. There is mouthwatering acidity, good energy throughout, early complexity, focus and length, with silky tannins on a lingering finish. The team see the concentration throughout the wine as characteristic of the 2024 vintage for their region. Enjoy over the next eight years. Hard to think of many better Pinots from Western Australia.
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.
