Why you'll love this wine
As one of Australia's most exciting up and coming wine regions, Pemberton has become synonymous with high-quality, cool climate wines – particularly Pinot Noir.
The Smithbrook Pinot Noir is packed with juicy red berries and complemented by earthy notes of mushroom and forest floor, encompassing all the good things about complex and delicious Pinot Noir.
With spicy, silky tannins and an elegant cool climate acidity, this is an incredible value wine which will fast become your new favourite cool-climate Pinot Noir.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Bright red with medium intensity.
Aroma
This aromatically charged Pinot leaps from the glass displaying dark cherry, wild strawberry with underlying earthy savoury notes. The technique of whole bunch fermentation adds a gamey, stalky, complexity to the aroma.
Palate
The palate is medium-weighted with bright, jubey red fruits. These complex flavours are enhanced by a crisp zippy acid backbone, which promotes freshness.
Cellaring
Cellar for 3–5 years.
Technical
vintage
The 2021 vintage was one of the most difficult growing seasons experienced in the region in many years. With a number of large rainfall events and cool temperatures from February onwards, we utilised very careful vineyard management techniques to manage disease pressure and ensure optimum ripening of our fruit. Very selective handpicking was essential during harvest to ensure only high-quality fruit was received in the winery. The 2021 vintage produced wines with extremely elegant natural acidity, lower alcohol levels and vibrant, lifted aromatics.
winemaking
The fruit was very carefully and selectively hand-picked and sorted, then destemmed into an open fermenter, including 20% whole bunches for complexity and texture. Following a short cold soak, before ferment kicked off, the wine was tasted daily and plunged as required for 14 days then matured for eight months in new (25%) and one-year-old French barriques.
Region
Pemberton
Variety
Pinot Noir
Analysis
- Alcohol: 14%
Awards
Southern Forests & Valleys Wine Show 2023
Southern Forests & Valleys Wine Show 2022
Reviews
The West Australian Wine Guide 2023
From this eponymous pioneering Pemberton vineyard. It’s a joy to see this label thriving under the Fogarty Wine Group. This wine is packed with ripe pinot character from rhubarb to raspberry with a dusting of whole bunch spice and regional smoky notes. The palate is medium bodied and well calibrated to be plush and warming with precise fine tannins. Best for early drinking and can be enjoyed over the next 4 years. Top Rated.
93
James Suckling 2022
Aromas of sliced strawberries, grated nutmeg, moss and chicory root. Medium-bodied with silky tannins and texture. Bright and fresh with strawberry and cherry character. A hint of porcini at the finish. Subtle length here. Refreshing.
92
Ray Jordan Wine Guide 2024
Light bodied and thoroughly delicious Pinot Noir. Opens with an earthy, sweet strawberry and dark cherry combo on the nose. Impressive palate with glazed cherry and subtle earthy minerally characters merging. The tannins are fine and slightly chalky with the oak well integrated. The firm spine gives purpose to drive through to the finish.
92
Ray Jordan Wine Guide 2023
Typical, light bodied pinot noir but one with insistent and lingering flavours. There’s a nice chalky feel here with those cherry and strawberry characters evident on the nose and palate. Has a little trace of spice with slightly firm sinewy and chalky tannins adding steel to the core.
90
Halliday Wine Companion
This aromatic pinot displays dark cherry, wild strawberry and underlying earthy, savoury notes. The palate is medium-weighted with bright, jubey red fruits and a zippy acid backbone.
