2021 Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir

$40.00

98 Points, Winepilot  //  Really good Pinot Noir comes from low yielding, cool climate vineyards, grown on older vines. These characteristics will create balance, intensity and concentration.

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Tasting Notes

Colour: Mid red colour.

Bouquet: The aromas from this wine show true Pinot Noir character. Strawberry and cherry fruits are backed by a complex and creamy gaminess. There are also hints of spice, stalks, and some charry barrel ferment characters all combining to give the wonderful complex aromas you would expect from good Pinot Noir.

Palate: The front palate shows the cherry and strawberry fruit characters. There is a silky texture and wonderful balance running through the mid palate, with the quality French oak adding subtle charry characters. The tannins are fine and balanced, combining with a tight acid structure to give a long, lingering and powerful finish. The light gaminess adds complexity, which will continue to develop with age.

Food Accompaniment: Perfect with duck but also try with lamb, chicken and mild Asian dishes.

Cellaring Potential: Will continue to improve and develop complexity with age; cellar for 10+ years.

Winemaking: Hand and machine harvested. The Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir saw a combination of winemaking treatments including seven days cold soak; natural fermentation; 100% whole bunch ferment; and barrel fermentation. The blend was matured in French barriques (25-28% new oak) without racking for 9-10 months.

Gold Medal, Wine Show of Western Australia, 2022

98 Points “The 2021 Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir is hailing from 20-35 year old vines and made from a selection of five clones. Acai berries, juniper and macerated black cherries are catapulted from the glass, like a magical concoction from an Apothecary of your dreams – seriously I am immediately hooked. Winter pine buds, fresh sage and Madagascar vanilla bean are then followed by sweet tobacco pouch and boot leather. Redcurrants and wild strawberries make an appearance on the palate and the lofty acidity and sappy tannins carry those flavours on and on – my goodness what a wine. Drink with slivers of perfectly cooked beef tongue dipped in red wine jus or, for the less adventurous, a really really good steak..” Shanteh Wale, Winepilot

94 Points “Nicely done modern style, exotic fruit rose hip and petals into fresh strawberry and strawberry puree aromas. The winemaker’s hands are not all over it subtle in the oak department or by overdoing the whole bunch winemaking. The palate is succulent ripe fresh, soft fine tannins and lively, flavours with plenty of concentration but not heavy, graceful tannins and ripe fruit return to close.” Rob Geddes MW

93 Points “Deliciously savoury, this is a wonderfully presented Pinot Noir from Western Australia’s Great Southern region. The consistency from year to year is respectable and this 2021 release is no different. Strawberry and dark cherries make an early dash for your favour before a host of savoury goodness takes the stage. The use of 100% whole bunches really stakes its claim. Think dried leaves, tea leaves, dried herbs, some earthiness and meatiness before fine spices hug a long finish. A wine made with five Pinot clones coming off 20-30 year old vines, it is barrel fermented (28% new French oak) and rests up for ten months. All up, this is very Pinot and very varietal. It’s a great drink for the money.” QWine, Sept 2022

93 Points “A deeply coloured, brilliant-looking young pinot noir of some power. It has a complex aroma that brings reminiscences of Cherry Ripe bars, smoky bacon and spice. An earthy trace of sulphide backs it up. It tastes tangy in balance and quite full in body with plenty of ripe plummy flavour and a long dry finish. Needs a little time to come together more, but very good.” The Real Review, Sept 2022

93 Points “My first thought after tasting this wine was that if Western Australia keeps making Pinot Noir like this then we might have to revise our stereotypical opinions of West Australian Pinot. Cold soaking for a week, wild yeasts and barrel fermentation, maturation was in French barriques for nine to ten months with around one quarter of them new. Pale garnet in colour, the wine offers the enthralling aromas we look for in a classic Pinot. Some early complexity; game, red fruits, cranberries, spices, cherries, a hint of a briary note and some undergrowth. Then well balanced, linear and with good persistence plus silky tannins. This is lovely now but should continue to improve over the next five to six years. 93 with potential to rise. Castle Rock is a name which should be on every Aussie winelover’s must drink list.” Ken Gargett, Winepilot, Oct 2022

93 Points, “Bright ruby hue. Whole bunch overt spice with fleshy red currant, cherry and strawberry with proper Pinot fallen leaf, game meat, hibiscus and rooibos tea. Oak gives a sweetness that supports a suggestion of Turkish Delight. Generous through the palate with a long run of supple and silky tannins with just the right amount of chew from the whole bunch. Consistent length and a bright finish, shadowed with oak char. Development over the medium term. One of the better labels from WA’s Pinot Noir producers.” Vinonotebook, Regan Drew, Oct 2022

92 Points “This is a cracking value Pinot Noir from Rob Diletti. The fruit is already generous and built to please delivering plenty of pretty, fragrant fruits including cranberry and dark cherry aromas with a spicy, herbal lift and oak sitting in reserve. Juicy and fresh, stalky notes provide initial savoury complexity before fleshing out with layers of dark, earthy flavours with fresh acidity driving a long, sustained finish. A great drink now but also it has plenty of stuffing so will hold on for some time to come.” Angus Hughson, Wine Pilot, Sept 2022

“Castle Rock Estate 2021 Pinot Noir – medium depth bright purple in colour, vibrant strawberry aromas with just a smidge of cherries & dried herbs. Gorgeous, round, well balanced & very tasty palate with a hint of savouriness. OUTSTANDING!!!” Dan Traucki, Wine Assist, Sept 2022

“Burgundy might have to wait for another day but in the meantime you can be very happy with this elegant and complex creature. It’s quite a light style but with plenty of interesting characters ranging from strawberries and cherries to cinnamon, vanilla and some earthy/mushroom notes. Fine, silky tannins and a long finish make it a joy to drink.” PS News, Christine Salins

5 Star “From Porongurup sub-region of WA’s Great Southern Region, this 13.5% alcohol, potpourri-scented, bright garnet pinot has vibrant raspberry front-palate flavour, middle-palate cranberry, Maraschino cherry, spice and savoury oak and a finish of minty tannins.” Newcastle Herald, John Lewis

Vine Age: 20-35 Years
Yields: 1.8 T/Acre
Harvest Date: 18 March 2021
Bottling Date: 10 February 2022
Alc: 13.5%
pH: 3.50
T.A.: 6.5
Residual sugar: 0 g/L
Vegan friendly
Minimal sulphites used

Here’s a few older vintage tasting notes for those that have some of our wines in their cellars. These notes were written upon release of each of these wines.

2021 Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir
98 Points, Shanteh Wale, Winepilot

2020 Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir
97 Points, James Halliday, The Australian

2019 Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir
95 Points, Wine Companion

2018 Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir
95 Points, Wine Companion

2017 Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir
96 Points, Wine Companion

2016 Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir
95 Points, Wine Companion

2014 Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir
96 Points, Wine Companion