2023 Mac Forbes Gembrook Village Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir from the southern-most sub-region of the Yarra Valley.

Price:
Sale price$65.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship, only 5 units left
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Description

Gembrook Village Pinot Noir is an exceptional new addition to the Village range, offering a unique expression of the southern Yarra Valley’s distinctive terrain. Perched at around 300 metres, this vineyard sits on one of the rare granite outcrops that punctuate the predominantly red volcanic soils of the Gembrook subregion. This granite influence is unmistakable, lending the wine a tactile structure that sets it apart.

On the nose, this Pinot Noir bursts with aromas of dark plum, blackberry compote, and an intriguing blend of baking spices and exotic florals. The palate is equally compelling, with these rich, sweet black fruits seamlessly woven together by intense, chalky tannins that linger with impressive persistence. Despite the challenging vintage, marked by heavy rainfall and lower yields, the wine showcases remarkable depth and concentration, a testament to the long, slow ripening period that allowed the fruit to develop its detailed character.

Unfined and unfiltered, this wine benefits from decanting to fully reveal its complex layers. Serve it slightly chilled at 14-16°C to enjoy the full spectrum of its nuanced flavours. The 2023 Gembrook Village Pinot Noir is a vibrant, structured wine that offers a taste of its unique granite terroir.


"A light, bright ruby red. Lighter and more perfumed than last year's version. Aromas of cranberries and blood orange together with some distinct whole-bunch and mountain-herb notes. Very grippy tannins, and it's a 'watch this space' on how this will end up. It'll need a couple of years, at least, to shed some of those tannins."
- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)

 

Location:
Situated at approximately 300m elevation at the southern end of the Yarra Valley, much of the Gembrook subregion is characterized by red volcanic soils, with small granite outcrops scattered across the area. The vineyard where this fruit is grown is entirely on one of these granite patches, which is clearly reflected in the wine's tactile structure. This wine is an exciting addition to the village portfolio.

Tasting Notes:
Bursting with spice and sweet black fruits, Gembrook continues to stand out. Notes of dark plum and blackberry compote are complemented by undertones of baking spice and exotic florals, all woven together by intense, chalky tannins that linger across the palate. We recommend decanting this wine before serving at 14-16°C.

Vintage:
The season was challenging, marked by extreme rainfall during winter and spring. Poor flowering conditions resulted in reduced yields, but the depth and concentration of flavor are enhanced as a result. A long, slow ripening period over the summer led to a late harvest, producing fruit with wonderful detail and depth—a revelation from such a difficult season.

Wine Analysis:

Alcohol: 12%
Acidity: 5.4 g/L
pH: 3.72
Winemaking:

Soils: Granite & decomposed quartz
Fruit: Whole berry, 14 days in concrete & open fermenters
Yeast: Wild
Maturation: 9 months in small old oak
Fining: None
Filtration: None
Bottled: 10th January 2024

92+ points - "This is light, bright and tannic, as is the upper Yarra way. It tastes of cranberry, red cherry, earth, herbs and fennel, with white flower notes rising as it breathes. It’s still fleshing out, still building, still feeling its way. but its feet are set in firm lines of acid and tannin, it’s lengthy through the finish, and it feels well-placed to develop well." - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

91 points - "A light, bright ruby red. Lighter and more perfumed than last year's version. Aromas of cranberries and blood orange together with some distinct whole-bunch and mountain-herb notes. Very grippy tannins, and it's a 'watch this space' on how this will end up. It'll need a couple of years, at least, to shed some of those tannins." - Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)

Mac Forbes

If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.

Mac specialises in single vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.

His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, the Chardonnays are adored by lovers of fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice, and his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are among the country's most interesting. Additionally, his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure trove for the curious drinker.

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