Murdoch Hill Phaeton Pinot Noir 2023

This year, Murdoch Hill’s Lenswood Vineyard forms the backbone of the Phaeton Pinot Noir. Perched at 500 metres, the lofty Lenswood site is home to four blocks of Pinot clones D5V12 and Dijon 114 and 115, planted in 1989 and the early 2000s respectively. The clonal complexity adds a dense core of fruit as well as structure and fragrance. The balance of the fruit (15%) comes from two Piccadilly growers Michael Downer has worked with for years. The first site lies at 520 metres outside the town of Piccadilly, below Mount Lofty. Its easterly aspect gives Downer delicacy, pretty aromatics and pure, red-fruited notes. The second vineyard, also with an easterly aspect but in Ashton, sits on a steep slope at 560 metres on hard soils with relatively shallow sandstone. It adds forest floor complexity.

Downer handled each parcel separately, with small portions of berries and bunches (10%). This year, the bunch portion was pulled back because the season was cool, yields were small, and the juice-to-skin ratio was low, calling for a more restrained approach. Fermentation occurred in stainless steel, followed by maturation mainly in puncheons with a small amount in barrique (approximately 40% new) for eight months. It’s another elegant and perfumed release with a dense, powerful fruit core balanced by bright structure and savoury spice.