Shaw + Smith Pinot Noir
Adelaide Hills
Price Range at Release: $50-$99
Vintage: 2023
Alc %: 13.5
$ Rel: 50
It's taking some time to flesh out, but this charming and gentle pinot from the cool 2023 season is building colour and depth. A heady perfume of musk, sous bois and dark florals reveals sweet cherry and berry aromas with gentle cedary oak in support. Long, elegant and supple, it's intensely flavoured and charmingly restrained, with a pleasing core of fruit underpinned by fine, dusty tannins. It should build further.
Last Date Tasted: 25/07/2024
Vintage
Score/100
Score/20
Year To Drink
2023
9117.4

2025-2028+

2022
9318.2

2030-2034+

2018
9518.6

2026-2030+

2017
9418.4

2025-2029

2016
9418.3

2024-2028

2015
9017.2

2020-2023

2013
9117.5

2015-2018+

2012
9217.9

2017-2020+

2010
9017.0

2012-2015+

2009
8615.9

2011-2014

2008
9117.5

2010-2013+

2007
8716.0

2009-2012

Winery

Shaw and Smith focuses most of its attention on just a small stable of wines -  a Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and M3 Vineyard Chardonnay. The M3 is made with special effort to retain brightness of flavour and its fluffy, fine and vibrant texture -  qualities that certainly contribute to the longevity its makers regard as an essential component in chardonnay quality. The Shiraz is successfully evolving into a complex, firm and spicy wine in a Rhône-inspired style while the Sauvignon Blanc remains the company's signature wine, and one that has helped establish the Adelaide Hills as Australia's leading region for this variety. I'm regularly taken by the very serious nature of some of the Pinot Noirs, many of which are simply delicious drinking and exceptional value. Based on purity and focus of fruit, the Shaw and Smith style is to augment these qualities with carefully measured elements of winemaking-induced complexity. The results are never too wild or extreme, but thoughtful and complex. These qualities are taken to artful new heights with the company's individual vineyard wines, being the Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz plus the Lenswood Vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. These are top level wines of international quality. It's a joy to see what Adam Wadewitz -  one of this country's very finest winemakers -  is doing at the sharp, pointy end of wine quality.
Chief Executive(s):
David Le Mire
Winemaker:
Adam Wadewitz
Viticulturist:
Ray Guerin
Address:
136 Jones Road , Balhannah , South Australia 5242 Australia
Cellar Door Open Hours:
7 days, 11am - 5pm
Principal Wine Region:
Adelaide Hills
Telephone:
(08) 8398 0500
Facsimile:
(08) 8398 0600
Website:
Email:
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