Fleet Lichen Pinot Meunier 2024
- 93
- $38
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The fruit for this wine comes from Clare Burder’s family vineyard in Whitlands at an elevation of 800 metres above sea level. It’s 100% de-stemmed with a 22-day wild yeast ferment in open top fermenters before maturation in neutral puncheons. This is downright delicious – it’s bright and red fruited with crunchy energy and red-floral prettiness adding to the allure. What’s more, its ultra-fine structure makes for a chillable option if inclined. However, ‘normal’ red wine temperature has this singing from the get-go with Bing cherry, red plum, sweet red rose and cinnamon quill lifting prettily from the glass. Further inspection finds delicate star anise and white pepper lingering in the background adding savoury nuance. So bright! The palate is eminently crunchy and lithe with a lovely burst of red rose, plum and cherry sitting above spice notes of the same before an ultra-fine sheath of tannins and piquant acidity frame the finish. Red florals permeating the mouth perfume. Like I said, downright delicious.
Tom Kline is a wine writer, reviewer, presenter, and educator based in Victoria, Australia. He is the Australian correspondent for the internationally respected publications Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy and Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux, where he highlights the top tier of Australian wine for a global audience. Tom also writes for leading outlets including Decanter (UK), Wine Spectator (US), and Halliday Magazine, among others. An experienced wine show judge and WSET educator, he has authored several consumer-focused wine courses aimed at making wine more accessible and engaging. In 2023, Tom was awarded Best Published Feature Article or Wine Column at the prestigious Wine Communicator Awards, presented by Wine Communicators of Australia.
