2023 Mac Forbes Yarra Valley Pinot Noir

Outstanding value Pinot Noir from one of the Yarra Valley's most loved small producers.
4.5
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
20 Reviews

Price:
Sale price$38.00
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In stock, ready to ship
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Description

Mac Forbes is passionate about Pinot Noir, and his 'Yarra Valley' release is the perfect way to get to know his unique style.

It comes from declassified portions of Mac's six single vineyard Pinots, taking on characters of each to present a beautifully balanced wine that reflects what quality Yarra Pinot is all about.

This gives the drinker an immediate insight into Mac Forbes' ethos. He stands for quality, and this characterful Pinot is sensational value.

94 points
"What a delight. This wine really delivers the goods. It’s pure Pinot Noir."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

93 points, "A blend of eight vineyards. Whole bunches (20%) matured in seasoned barriques and some puncheons. A light, bright crimson. Redolent of red cherries, blood oranges and spice. The palate is youthful and brightly fruited, with discreet yet crunchy tannins adding subtle grip." - Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)

94 points - "Beautiful floral rosy/violet perfume, leaps out of the glass. Red fruit, red cherry, a good amount of flavour, fine acidity, light soft chew to crushed rock tannin, lively on the finish and long too. What a delight. This wine really delivers the goods. It’s pure Pinot Noir." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

Customer Reviews

4.5
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
Based on 20 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 13 Total 4 star reviews: 4 Total 3 star reviews: 2 Total 2 star reviews: 1 Total 1 star reviews: 0
20 reviews
  • JH
    John H.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Cork Dork
    1 year ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Cork Dork
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Fun little Pinot

    Great value for this beautiful little Pinot. Not many other Pinots better than this at the price. I can only think of 1 and that’s because I get a discount.

  • JC
    john c.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    2 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    Rated 3 out of 5 stars
    Mr. John Cahill

    This is a light style Pinot as are previous vintages.

    Many Pinot afficianados will not like it.

    Its a good summer lunchtime wine.

    Young at the moment.

    Another 12 months in the bottle and it might be better.

  • C
    Chris
    Verified Reviewer
    Wine Knowledge Level Cork Dork
    2 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Cork Dork
    Rated 2 out of 5 stars
    Pleasent yet bland

    Fruit bomb with little savoury flavour, light-bodied, some tannic structure but overall lacking, good length but would benefit from more colour and flavour extraction.

Reviews LoadedReviews Added

The Yarra Valley label is the entry into our Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. ‘Yarra Valley’ is a blend of declassified barrels from our grower vineyards and the Mac Forbes single vineyard sites. They represent a snapshot from across the valley and our vineyards. Generally, they can be enjoyed young but cellaring will reward with increased complexity.

TASTING NOTE

Displaying a medium dark cherry hue with a brilliant edge, while the nose presents an abundance of nuanced red dark fruits. Subtle spice, hints of carbonic red fruits,
and mineral stones add complexity, making it highly enticing. On the palate, there's an interplay of gravelly tannins with notes of red candy fruit, dark fresh cherries, and savoury structure, complemented by fine chalky tannins and wonderful length, leaving you thirsty in a very good way.

We recommend serving this wine between 14-16 degrees.

VINTAGE CONDITIONS

A challenging season with extreme rainfall during winter and spring. Poor flowering conditions has meant another year of reduced yields, but depth and concentration of flavour are all the better for it. Long slow ripening over the summer gave us a late start to the harvest, with wonderful fruit detail and depth. Quite a revelation from such a challenging season.

VINEYARD

The Yarra Valley Pinot is a blend of fruit from grower vineyards and properties that we farm across both the upper Yarra and the Valley floor.

WINEMAKING

Fruit: 15% whole bunches, 20% destemmed and foot stomped

Fermentation: 18-21 days on skins in open fermenters and wood

Maturation: 11 months in old large and small format oak

Yeast: Wild

Fining: None

Filtration: None

Price Bracket $31 to $40
Type Red
Body Light Bodied
Variety Pinot Noir
Country Australia
Region Yarra Valley
Australian State VIC
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
The Wine Front
Critic Score 93
94
Alcohol 13%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
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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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