Shaw + Smith Lenswood Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

If you have ever wondered about the meaning of ‘brooding’ used in a wine tasting note, here it is. It’s dark, it’s quixotic, it arrives in scents of dark rose, rosehip, wild blueberry, black cherry, dried leaves, undergrowth, earth and dark-roasted spices. In other words, it fills the senses with dark, elemental, atmospheric qualities. Comes together in a slow dance across the palate, nothing hurried, unwinding in dark fruits, spices with additional cranberry notes and blood orange peeking out from some well-laid and expensive French vanillin oak. The fruit is up to the task set by the oak, but some more time in the bottle would be advised in order to reach its optimum. Comes together well: tannins are fine and acidity shines. Everything is in readiness.