Medhurst Estate Pinot Noir 2023

95 POINTS

Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion

Hand picked from two blocks, one north-facing and one partially south-facing. About 10% whole bunches in the final cuvée; 30% new wood. A light, bright crimson cherry. Leaps out of the glass with its bouquet of cranberries, redcurrants and rosehips together with some spice and floral top notes. Brightly fruited on the palate too, with fine, gently crunchy tannins and vibrant, palate-cleansing acidity. Very nicely done.

93 POINTS

Shanteh Wale - Winepilot

Morello cherries, pomegranate molasses and rosehip. Exotic asian spices of star anise, five spice and fenugreek seed. Oaks show maple leaf and cedar backed by espresso coffee and mace. A thorough line of gathering acidity picks upon some strawberry and rose petals. The wine is quite pure with subtle oak spice on the palate. It fits snugly in the crunchy and alluring Pinot Noir scene. This would be ideal with a speck laced morel mushroom risotto.

92 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

The 2023 vintage was long term winemaker Sim Steele’s last one. The wine was vinified by him, and then allocated, blended and finished off by new winemaker Rohan Smith. Steele + Smith could be a snappy name for a winery though, maybe. Strawberry, raspberry, brown spice, a little mint, kind of twiggy and autumnal too. It’s medium-bodied, a little bit sappy and tangy, has very attractive fine emery board tannin, red cherry and orange peel, with a bright and frisky finish of good length. It’s maybe a more edgy style of Pinot Noir, though it certainly has plenty of energy. It’ll no doubt improve with a few more years in bottle.