Angelo and Wendy Diletti are the founders of Castle Rock Estate. Rob Diletti, their son, now drives the estate. He has a wealth of experience making wine at places like Mountadam Wines, Grosset Wines, Plantagenet Wines, Jean Grenier in Alsace, and Alkoomi Wines. Which has resulted in his deft touch to all his fruit both purchased and grown, with a focus on sinewy tannins and considered structure behind the fruit profile. The range from Castle Rock Estate continues to impress me year after year and the 2022 Pinot Noir release is no different. Keep your eye out for these wines, they are spectacular. 

Castle Rock Pinot Noir 2022
95 Points | $40

Vine age here is between 8 – 37 years with whole bunch fermentation and barrel fermentation. A mixture of old and new oak matured for 10 months on lees. Red strawberries, cranberries and stewed rhubarb with a herbal lift of lavender, redcurrant and pink peppercorn, which adds another exciting dimension to the wine. Tannins are gritty, crumbly and built from fruit rather than oak. Acidity is crunchy and bright. This is a serious Pinot Noir from Porongurup, with angles and edges to pillowy red and black fruit. If this is their estate Pinot Noir what more can they do? I could easily drink this all day long. Pair with seared duck breast served pink. Delicious now and will cellar well for 3-5 years.

Castle Rock Diletti Pinot Noir 2022
96 Points | $50

The Diletti is Castle Rock’s estate Pinot Noir. The use of 73% whole bunch with carbonic maceration is used here. Maturation is for 10 months in 18% new oak. A savoury nose of dried leaf litter, shitake mushroom and terra cotta. Morello cherries unfold with oriental lilies and dried plums. Rosemary stem, sandalwood and hints of Kola nut. The bunch work is prominent in the texture of the wine with a mesh of interlaced tannins and nice wash of acidity. You’d be forgiven if you thought this wine was silky and ethereal but behind its seduction is fastidious detail and plenty of Pinot Noir winemaking know how. A really beautiful drink that will last the distance but is delicious now. Pair with slow cooked pork belly and udon noodles.

Castle Rock A&W Pinot Noir 2022
97 Points | $55

All estate fruit. Sourced primarily from the oldest plantings thanks to Angelo and Wendy from 1986. 32% of the total is made up of whole bunches. Matured in French oak on medium lees for 10 months in 23% new oak. A granitic crushed rock is the first and final aroma of this wine. Bay leaf, crushed dried gum leaf and thyme follow with white strawberry, rhubarb and gala apple. There is a hint of reduction that comes across in white coal ash and powdered pepper with a filigree of fine tannin and acidity interplay. As with the rest of the Pinot Noirs in the range the wines graduate with finesse and detail. Less is more as winemaking goes. This is truly pinpoint precision artisan quality. Drink now although will cellar upwards of 8 years. Drink with glistening slivers of wagyu.