Shaw + Smith Pinot Noir 2024

The cool and generous rainfall in the growing season led to drier than average conditions in the lead up to vintage, showing the artful work of harmonising a core of black fruit, circled by some tart red berries and enhanced by the spice of whole bunch and savoury oak. This is dialled up from the strawberries and cream of past vintages, leaning into a briar of blackberries, Bing cherries and some pulpy pomegranate seeds. There is a dried kombu like umami with dots of poppy seed and chewy molasses like bitterness that I quite enjoy on the finish. Its grippy tannic angles will play nicely with some time in the cellar, say another 4-6 years under the stairs or further in good cellaring conditions. This has plenty of character and the kind of charm that wears you down and has you texting back at some godforsaken hour. For me this is the kind of wine I want to drink with milky young lamb, warrigal greens and crispy capers, to be exact!