Conte Estate Yabby Dam Pinot Noir 2024
- 90
- $20
- Drink by: 2025-2029
Share
One of the joys of reviewing wines is that there will always be something that surprises you. First up here is a McLaren Vale Pinot Noir, a very rare beast indeed. There are a couple, but they are always fascinating to see. Next, and somewhat less relevant is the claim that yabbies are native to South Australia – I suppose technically yes, but I suspect a lot of people would think of them more as an east coast species of freshwater/land crustacean. My old man used to tell endless tales of when he was a kid catching yabbies in the creeks of Brisbane. I digress, and more irrelevantly than usual. The wine spent time in French oak. McLaren Vale Pinot is never going to be an elegant, ethereal style of wine, but no reason it can’t provide good flavours and be a thoroughly enjoyable drink. This one is that. A red/garnet colour, the nose gives notes of undergrowth, mushrooms, raspberries, spices, dried herbs and red fruits. Inevitably, a little more burly than a typical Aussie Pinot, but provided that does not mar expectations, it is an enjoyable wine. Medium length with fine tannins, it does have a future over the next two to four years.
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.
