Castle Rock Porongurup Pinot Noir 2019
- 93
- $34
- Drink by: 2021 - 2028
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I first met winemaker Rob Diletti at the Len Evans Tutorial, many years ago. My lasting impression is of a bloke who thought deeply about wine at every level. Since then, his Castle Rock wines have never failed to impress and I suspect if he was not such a quiet and modest guy that his wines would be far better known and receiving more of the accolades that they so richly deserve.
Seven days cold soaking, natural fermentation, 100% whole bunch fermentation and then barrels. 10 months, no racking, in French barriques, 28% of which are new.
A lovely gentle red colour. That 100% whole bunch fermentation is immediately apparent. I know this character divides pinot fans. For me, too obvious and it throws the wine right out of balance, making it too sappy. A little can really add to the complexity and class of a good pinot and that is the case here. Spices, herbs, florals, and underneath all that, some cherries. This is pretty much as good as WA Pinot gets, but it also suggests that the future in the West might be more exciting for this variety than most anticipate. Seamless, balanced, good acidity and underlying minerality. This has a good future. Definitely a wine which all Pinotphiles should check out.
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.
