Tamar Ridge Research Series Pinot Noir 2020

The Research Series is where the winemakers get to play, trialing new techniques in the vineyard and winery. This beauty used a combination of carbonic maceration (85%) to enhance the florals and delicate fruit with barrel fermentation (15%) to add some funk. The result is aromas of raspberries crushed in the hands of a cherubic toddler – spritzing everywhere. There’s kirsch and the nutty marzipan notes of cherry pits. Lifted rose petal florals are supported by the spice of green peppercorns and dried bay leaves.

On the palate it is quite light and frolics about with ultra-fine tannins adding a subtle savoury feel to spicy, tangy rhubarb and cherries. But then the finish pulls you back into serious wine reverence and won’t let go – juicy cherries, cranberries, musk, white pepper and a hint of mushrooms growing wild in the forest.

Nicole Bilson

Wine Critic at Winepilot

Nicole loves wine. So much so that she gave up a successful career in Pharmacy, perfected her spitting technique, and moved from sunny Queensland to the wine-drenched laneways of Melbourne. Stints in hospitality, wineries, retail, sales and marketing filled the next few years while Nicole built her knowledge and searched for the right path. She completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Diploma in 2016 and became a certified WSET Educator the following year. She now juggles a number of roles including teaching people about wine, curating wines lists for restaurants and bars, judging in Australian wine shows and, of course, writing. In 2016 she won the Negociants Working With Wine writing award and has since contributed to Gourmet Traveller WINE, Halliday Wine Companion Magazine and Nourish Magazine.

Wine tasting