Holm Oak The Protégé Pinot Noir 2025
- 95
- $32
- Drink by: 2026-2034
Share
It is by design that the team ensure that this wine is more fruit forward and slightly lighter than what one may term their serious Pinot Noir, which hopefully doesn’t in any way demean this particular version. After destemming and fermentation with the wine on skins for ten days, there was a further period of maturation in tank. Pale crimson in colour, this is a most evocative style of Pinot Noir, beautifully fragrant. We have notes of florals, cherries, spices and raspberries. An exquisitely pretty version of this great grape, this is seamless and immaculately balanced with excellent length. Stunning value, this is a cracking Pinot Noir and certainly the best Protégé I can recall. Enjoy it over the next six to eight years. The team may have aimed for something a little lighter, but they have come up with a wonderfully elegant and refreshing wine. Love it.
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.
