Curly Flat Macedon Ranges Western Pinot Noir 2023

The western blocks of Curly Flat have reduced exposure to the afternoon sun and are the coolest part of the entire vineyard. The combination of a cool region, cool site and cool vintage results in a pretty classy Pinot once it hits the glass. And it shows its coolness in aromas of rhubarb, cranberry, cherry and dried herbs with a touch of tomato leafiness. Vibrant and focused, it grabs your attention with its emerging complexity, its middle palate gentle creaminess and its length. The palate opens up to explore red cherry, plum, cranberry with earthy, undergrowth notes and dried herbs with a rhubarb tartness that teases the taste buds. Tannins are lithe, sinewy and work well as a counterpoint to the fruit offering a brisk, clean finish.

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