Provenance Wines Ballarat Pinot Noir 2020

From vines rooted into ancient volcanic soils at 500 metres asl near Scotsburn. Predominantly whole berry ferment with a small amount of whole bunch, before going into a mix of French barrique and puncheons for 10 months. It’s a savoury affair in the main aromatically. A glimmer of macerated wild strawberry quickly yields to nutmeg, woodsmoke, subtle tomato leaf, au jus, roasted cherry tomato umami, and a touch of button mushroom. There’s some mineral lift cutting through it all, too, freshening things up and adding extra dimension. The palate melds earthy and savoury notes with some stubborn fruit keeping vibrancy. Wild strawberry and dark cherry make way for mushroom, tilled earth, forest floor and sun dried tomato before being gently folded into a sheath of ultra-fine silty tannins and cleansing acidity. There’s great length here, with earthy notes at the fore. This is a complex and poised wine beautifully balancing savouriness and fruit. Delicious drinking.