Marchand & Burch Village Pinot Noir 2025

Pascal Marchand once caused quite the stir at Perth Airport by bringing Pinot Noir vines into the country. They then spent two and a half years in quarantine before being planted at the Mount Barrow vineyard. There are now ten Pinot Noir clones on the site and, from what I’ve tasted, no one else is producing Pinot of this quality within the Mount Barker sub-region of the Great Southern. I love this story, and I’m glad he went to the trouble, because this 2025 Village release is bloody delicious. Tart red berries, smoked salami, perfectly ripe blackberries and spice. In the mouth, the fruit leads over winemaking artefact, with a little whole bunch bringing spice, structure and chrissy-cake characters. The tannins are fine but present, giving this pretty style some backbone. A great people-pleaser for supper club. 

Cyndal Petty

Wine Critic at Winepilot

A hopeless romantic for wine and food, Cyndal is nearing 15 years in hospitality while still (just) under 30. A Chef-turned-Sommelier and award-winning wine professional, Cyndal recently left a Group Sommelier role where she curated seven wine lists across multiple venues and led the wine team to Gourmet Traveller Wine Bar of the Year—just months after opening. Now freelance, Cyndal is a wine consultant, event host, wine judge, and wine writer. Passionate about sharing wine’s story with the world, she brings a fresh voice and creative solutions to the industry. After studying and traveling through most of her 20s, she’s now based in WA’s southwest, proudly embracing her role as a WA coastal cowgirl.

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