Xavier Pinot Noir Upper Yarra 2024
- 94
- $72
- Drink by: 2025-2035
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From the Lusatia Park Vineyard in the Upper Yarra, which was planted in 1985, this site is well known for providing fruit to several of the region’s best Pinot producers. The grapes were fully destemmed before fermentation, with subsequent pressing to French barriques, 15% new. A vibrant crimson hue, the nose exhibits notes of spices, dried herbs, red cherries, florals, leaf litter and truffles. Mouthwatering acidity, this is more elegant than many of its contemporaries, though there is plenty of underlying power. Seamless with impressive length, excellent balance and an intensity that never wavers, this is a most attractive Pinot with so much to like. It will provide terrific drinking over the next six to ten years and should lift even further over that time.
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.
