Holm Oak Fearless Pinot Noir 2023
- 94
- $65
- Drink by: 2025-2033
Share
If you have not seen this Holm Oak Pinot before, fear not. This is the inaugural release. They have avoided the use of any new oak and also eschewed whole bunch fermentation. It undergoes wild fermentation and then goes into one and two year old oak for ten months maturation prior to bottling. The wine is a blend of three different clones from a single vineyard in the Tamar Valley. The colour here is a fading crimson/garnet as the nose exhibits spices, bay leaves, dry vegetation, red fruits, cherries, animal skins and a near transparent flick of oak, very deftly handled. There is some early complexity here and good focus. The wine has silky tannins, immaculate balance, very good length which maintains the intensity and juicy acidity. An impressive Pinot for drinking over the next six to eight 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.
