Patina Orange Pinot Noir 2018

Over recent years, we have seen the Orange region in NSW emerge from near
obscurity to be a recognised quality wine region. Expect its rise in prominence
to continue, especially as climate change takes more and more of a toll in
some of our traditional districts. This cool region produces focused,
elegant wines and Patina, situated on the volcanic slopes of Mt Canobolas,
is one of the key makers here. 

Winemaker/owner, Gerard Naef, relocated from California and uses his
considerable experience in making wines like this fine, succulent Pinot
Noir. Around a third of the grapes were used in the form of whole bunch (my
initial impression was that it might be an even higher percentage, so those
who enjoy that style should be all over this). They went through carbonic
maceration for nine days before they were crushed. Fermentation to dryness
followed, pressing and then the wine was transferred to older French oak
barrels for 14 months. It has then spent a considerable time in the cellar,
maturing and building complexity before release. A pale red in colour, this
is a lovely sappy, brambly style of Pinot and those whole bunch notes are
certainly to the fore at this stage. There is good complexity, with notes of
cherries, spices, warm earth and leather. Seamless and supple with silky
tannins and good balance, there is decent length here. This impressive Pinot exhibiting
good complexity has at least a good five years ahead of it, if not longer.