Value wine is becoming a harder story to tell as production costs climb – but here’s one nugget that still delivers.
Mount Macleod’s 2023 Pinot Noir is smoother than your uncle’s jazz playlist and twice as complex.
A fresh, vibrant take on pinot noir that’s juicy with aromas of ripe cherry, red currant and driven by cranberry-like acidity.
Grown in a vineyard planted by Bass Phillip in Victoria’s South Gippsland region the winery is quietly producing some of Australia’s most elegant cool climate wines.
Winemaker Mark Matthews is never going to win any awards for marketing or self promotion.
Thankfully he’s rather diligent at his day job, recently achieving a 10-year organic certification after planting his 14,000th tree on the property and the establishment of native grass blocks between vineyards.
All that fun ecofriendly stuff makes his wine uniquely Australian.
It’s like licking a forest floor – but in a good, classy way adding unique earthy depth.
For me on a somewhat professional level, his pinot lands at a smashable price point with a RRP of $32. I feel it’s batting in the $50+ price range.
It’s well behaved and drinkable now, there would be some value in a few more years’ aging but it’s honestly not necessary.
It’s perfect now with a mushroom risotto or whatever you’ve burnt slightly but are pretending was intentional.
For those of you who aren’t master chefs, Grape & Grazing’s Lamb rump is downright perfect with this wine. Also ideal for sipping in your trackies while pretending you understand terroir.
