A new era at Curly – Curly Flat Pinot Noir 2018

This is a first for Curly Flat. As in the ‘first’ vintage made by new winemaker, Matt Harrop, following the departure of the winery’s co-founder, Phillip Moraghan, in late 2017. Harrop is a young gun – still, in my book – formerly with Shadowfax, and chairs leading wine shows around the country, so he’s a winemaker who thinks about the macro as well as the micro.

This is the flagship pinot noir for the company, the one that defines the house and regional (Macedon Ranges) style. It’s from an excellent vintage, one according to Harrop that delivered a “near perfect expression” of site.

There’s whole bunch and skin contact at play here as well as wild yeasts but, really, it all adds up to a delightfully complex wine which is important to remember because this is a bare youngster.

Approachable now with the fragrance of crushed red berries, musk, potpourri. The wine glides across the tongue leaving an impression that is both sweet-fruited, studded with lively red cherries, and don’t you just love that touch of pepper to close. Cool climate pinot to the very end.

NOTE: The 2018 pinot noirs will be available to customers from May 1.