Tapanappa Definitus Pinot Noir 2018
- 96
- $115
- Drink by: 2024-2034
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The 2021 vintage of Definitus sold out so quickly that the team decided to release a little of their museum stocks of the 2018 alongside the 2023 Foggy Hill. Given only 430 dozen were made in the first place, you can understand how limited this is. This provides pinotphiles with a wonderful opportunity to compare and contrast the two wines – 2023 a cool year while 2018 was a warm one; one newly released and the other with some serious bottle age; 2023 with no whole bunches included, while the 2018 had 15%; and the Definitus from a special patch in the vineyard. Those less interested in comparing and contrasting can simply just enjoy the wines. The museum release was nearly twice the price of the new release, so does that mean twice the quality? Pinot is a funny thing. Both wines had much to offer and your preference is likely to be whether you enjoy the elegant, refined cooler style or the richer and bolder older option. A crimson/garnet hue, the wine does have the advantage of some years of development. We have appealing truffle notes, red fruits, aniseed, fungal touches, forest floor, dry herbs and a flick of cinnamon. Very much a savoury style with fine, sleek tannins, excellent balance, good intensity and serious length. This still has ten years ahead of it.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
