Vignerons Schmölzer & Brown Beechworth Series Pinot Noir 2022

A lovely melding of savoury and sweet aromas here. Damp earth, decaying red florals, sticky date pudding first off, with some wild strawberry inserting itself into the mix. A swirl of the glass reveals some whole bunch aromas – twigs and heady spice. This is earthen and savoury rather than primary fruited, a thread that I’ve seen through this producer’s reds. The palate is lithe, lifted, and cool with nothing heavy to weigh it down. Macerated strawberry, twiggy nuance, earth, and black forest cake lead to bitter cacao and a sappy, borderline amaro-like finish within slinky tannins and integrated, driving acidity. Excellent length through the palate, and a lot on offer at this price point.