Curly Flat Macedon Ranges Central Pinot Noir 2023

The Central block, planted on rare volcanic rock (called Hawaiite for those budding geologists out there), comprises Curly Flat’s oldest vines, planted 1992. Traditionally, the block supplies aromatics and “detailed” tannins to its Pinot. That’s a big tick on both with the ’23 where pressed flowers join dried herbs, red cherries and vanillin oak. Unlike the Western block which sees no new oak, the role of new oak is noted here (24%) together with its accompanying tannin drive, length and high astringent dryness to close. But it is the aromatics which continue to capture your interest with rosehip and rose-pressed flowers mingling with red fruits, dried leaves, earth and sour cherry. A little bit arms and legs at this early stage but everything is in place for a bright future.

Jeni Port

Wine critic at Winepilot

Jeni Port is one of Australia’s top wine communicators. Based in Melbourne, Jeni created the first wine column in the (then) Sun News-Pictorial before moving over to The Age and becoming that paper’s longest-serving wine writer. Over the years she has written for most Australian wine magazines and these days calls WinePilot home. She is also a Tasting Panel member on the Halliday Wine Companion. She was named Wine Communicator of the Year and Legend of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in 2014 and in 2018 Legend of the Vine. She is a founding board member of Australian Women In Wine and is the co-deputy chair of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards and China’s Wine List of the Year Awards.

Wine writer and critic