Kooyong Ferrous Pinot Noir 2021

The unwritten rule is, if you note an individual block or vineyard on your wine label, it should mean something, bring an individuality, a personality of its own. Ferrous fits the bill. Like its fellow single block siblings, it brings something different to Pinot Noir: Ferrous, in particular, has ironstone soils working in its favour. That directly translates into a palate that is both precise, focused as well as richly embroidered. And, balanced. Ironstone soils tend to bring solid structure but naturally in balance. A polished wine, Ferrous is fresh and upfront in aromas of red plum, raspberry, black cherry and inviting spice. Delves deeper on taste – supple, mid-weighted, with plenty of flesh and smooth tannins. A sweep of ripe, dark fruits is joined by anise, spice, a touch of earthy rhubarb, sweet musk, potpourri and vanilla. Fourteen months in French oak barriques (25% new) has helped unlock an impressive wine that will age well.

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