An evening spent with one of the world’s greatest producers 
Around twenty-five years ago, on the strength of a recommendation, I found myself at lunch with four City underwriters on Lime Street. For reasons I cannot entirely explain, the occasion remains remarkably vivid. There was nothing outwardly extraordinary about it - simply a convivial lunch, several bottles of second-growth Bordeaux, and an energetic stream of questions about the wines of Bordeaux, which happened to be my particular field of expertise and the reason for my invitation. At that stage, neither The Vinorium nor its forerunner, Z&B Vintners, had yet been conceived. I was employed by a far larger international wine company - one with offices across multiple countries and, crucially, enviable access to some of the world’s most sought-after wines, especially those of Bordeaux. Our timing could not have been more fortuitous. The meeting coincided with the celebrated 2000 Bordeaux vintage - a truly exceptional year. In those days, Châteaux released their wines with admirable restraint, pricing them sensibly enough to satisfy collectors and investors alike. The quartet had christened their buying syndicate ‘Blue Nun’. Though two members were German by birth, the name was chosen with deliberate irony rather than as a reflection of personal taste. In reality, they were discerning customers of Bordeaux, Burgundy and beyond and, above all, refreshingly unpretentious. It is often said that life’s finest moments linger in the memory. Perhaps that explains why I can still picture so many of our subsequent gatherings - the lunches, the trips, the annual suppers. What began as a professional introduction evolved gradually into something far more meaningful: enduring trust and genuine friendship. Fast forward to the autumn of 2025 and two members of the syndicate flew over from Munich for a long-overdue reunion - and the promise of a few suitably ‘special’ bottles. We began with lunch at a local country pub (very good it was too), before retreating to open bottles from two celebrated Burgundian producers - Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Échezeaux and Musigny, Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé. Zalto Burgundy stemware at the ready… Both wines were from the 2002 vintage, heralded from the outset as a very fine year for red Burgundy. Not in the exalted league of the 1999s, nor the 2005s that would follow, but an assured and classically balanced vintage nonetheless. Even allowing for the significant correction in fine wine prices in recent years, both bottles remain eye-watering. The DRC now commands around £3,500 per bottle, whilst the Musigny from Comte Georges de Vogüé sits closer to £1,300. In fairness to the buyer, he paid nothing remotely close to those figures - both were acquired more than two decades ago, long before Burgundy’s ascent into the financial stratosphere. Regardless of who you are (provided you have some grip on the real world), wines at this level carry an undeniable weight of expectation. Even after more than twenty-five years in the trade, I am not immune to it (thank goodness). In my early years, I was much like many of our customers - unconvinced by Pinot Noir, wherever it came from. I simply didn’t understand it. A decade on, it has become my favourite grape by some distance. I understand the hesitation; I lived it. What surprises me, however, is the absence of curiosity - the reluctance to try even a single bottle. Some of our most respected and long-standing customers remain steadfast in their preferences, purchasing Shiraz with the occasional foray into Cabernet. Pinot Noir and certainly Gamay never make it onto their order pads. Respectfully, and in doing so, they are overlooking some of the most captivating wines they are ever likely to encounter. We hear the same refrains time and again: “It’s too light.” I once said similar things myself. I mistook delicacy and nuance for deficiency. Compared with the brooding density of Shiraz or the structural authority of young Cabernet, Pinot Noir seemed almost apologetic. If Pinot Noir feels underwhelming, it is often because we are looking for the wrong things. I do wonder if we have trained ourselves to equate quality with impact? Has power become shorthand for seriousness? Subtlety, by contrast, is too easily dismissed. Pinot Noir does not conform to the script. It offers translucency instead of opacity. Red fruit instead of black - though not always. It favours perfume over sheer mass. It asks for patience - and patience is not a fashionable virtue in wine. Of course, we have introduced many ‘aged’ Shiraz and Cabernet wines to you all which skips the ‘patience’ dilemma. More provocatively still, Pinot Noir exposes inattention. It does not perform for the restless. It will not raise its voice, nor batter the palate into submission. Instead, it waits. If you are not prepared to lean in - to listen rather than simply taste - it can pass like a whisper, mistaken for fragility when it is, in truth, restraint. But give it time - give it air - give it a quiet moment and it begins to unfurl. Not in a rush, not in a blaze, but in shifting layers: red fruits turning autumnal, florals dissolving into forest floor, spice rising and falling like breath. It is a wine of movement, of suggestion, of half-shades. As many readers of my tasting notes will know, I often sit with a bottle for hours. More often than not, it is Pinot Noir before me. Few varieties reward such patience with quite the same intimacy. I love Bordeaux and great Australian Cabernet may rival Pinot in stature, even in profundity. They can be monumental. But Pinot offers something rarer: not power revealed, but character discovered. I struggle to find the correct words. Of course, there are poor examples. At lower price points, Pinot can be thin, sharp, and frankly dreadful. Pub-by-the-glass versions are often a disservice to the grape, and most bottles under £15 do little to change perception. But this is not a call for extravagance. A compelling Pinot does not need to cost £300 - or even £100. Between £30 and £45, particularly from the New World, there are bottles that comfortably outperform their Burgundian equivalents at twice and often triple the price. The United States? Often expensive, certainly - but capable of utter brilliance. The irony is this: many drinkers comfortably spend £40, £60, even £100 on what they already know, yet baulk at £30 for a wine that might alter their view completely. Reluctance I understand. Resisting the journey toward something genuinely exquisite, I do not. I digressed, as I often do… Both wines were poured simultaneously and, over the course of the evening, were repeatedly swirled, sniffed, sipped and discussed. Midway through, I introduced a third bottle - the 2022 By Farr Pinot Noir from Australia, retailing at £89. I kept its identity (and price) to myself until the final reveal. The difference was night and day. The DRC betrayed its evolution immediately with a softened garnet, edged with tawny / brick-red hues that spoke clearly of maturity. The ‘GdV’, by contrast, seemed almost defiant of its years - deeper, darker, and astonishingly youthful for the same 2002 vintage. It was a fascinating comparison, and I loved sharing the moments with longstanding wine friends… Rare wines should stir something before the cork is even drawn. There is anticipation - an awareness that what rests in the bottle is finite, unrepeatable, shaped by a particular place and a particular year that will never come again. The moment should feel deliberate. And it did. The first pour carried that unmistakable hush around the table - a quiet recalibration of one’s posture and attention. This was, after all, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. In truth, the DRC disappointed me. Provenance was impeccable and the bottle entirely sound. There were no faults to disguise. Time, however, had simply caught up with it. The evolution of Pinot Noir in bottle had carried it beyond its most compelling phase. To my palate, its finest years lay behind it and that was saddening. There was admiration, certainly. Respect for its lineage. Appreciation for its texture and composure - and, of course, gratitude to my very generous friends. Yet that telling moment of involuntary silence - the one only the greatest wines provoke never arrived for me. And perhaps that is the real lesson. Rarity does not suspend time. Prestige does not freeze a wine at its peak. Even the most celebrated bottles remain subject to the same quiet law of evolution. Some you win, and some you lose. The key is tuning yourself to the wine’s journey. I have always preferred to buy in depth – a case or two and follow a wine’s progression over time. To open a single bottle at its summit is a thrill; to understand its arc is far more rewarding. The Musigny from Comte Georges de Vogüé was, quite simply, exquisite. Its vitality was astonishing. In a blind tasting, I would have confidently placed it at eight to ten years of age - certainly not approaching twenty-five. The wine seemed suspended in a state of poised, effortless youth. What surprised me equally was its presence. At 14% alcohol, it carried a depth and such authority. There was substance beneath the silk - boundless energy wrapped around towering mountains of structure. Flawless and perfect for me. I found myself repeatedly reaching for my glass, almost absent-mindedly neglecting the DRC. It is the finest Pinot Noir I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. My friends, however, could not have disagreed more. For them, the DRC was the clear and emphatic winner. And therein lies the enduring joy of wine. It is deep. It is personal. It resists consensus. And the By Farr? It fared very, very well indeed. Not a patch on the Musigny and difficult to compare to the DRC – you really shouldn’t. It held its ground with composure - pure fruit, fine structure, and a clarity that invited wholesome conversation. My friends were impressed. Quietly surprised, certainly - particularly when they learned it was Australian, and priced at £89. The reveal prompted raised eyebrows and a moment of recalibration. Expectation is a powerful lens… If only I had the three single-vineyard Pinot Noirs from our Tasmanian producer, Ghost Rock. I have little doubt they would have blown the barn doors clean off. Oulton, in particular, carries something undeniably Musigny-esque. That perfume, that lifted red fruit, that silken tension - though expressed at a different stage and on a different scale to Comte Georges de Vogüé. Do you spend £1,300 on a single bottle in pursuit of vinous heaven - knowing time, cork and evolution may conspire against you? Or do you buy forty-three bottles of a superb wine like Oulton and follow its journey over the next decade to fifteen years? Both have their place. But only one allows you to open a bottle on a Tuesday without reverence, without anxiety - simply with anticipation. La Filles: As stated in my tasting note - stylistically, this reminds me of the exquisite Pinots produced by DuMol (Sonoma Coast), perhaps toned down a smidgeon, but I’m confident in drawing the parallel and would show my friends understated opulence. Climat: And finally, to one of my favourite and genuinely affordable Pinot Noirs. I can say with confidence that I struggle to think of another Pinot at this price point (even allowing an additional ten or fifteen pounds) that comes remotely close. Ever.. We speak often of “flawlessness.” Here, it feels entirely justified. The flow and feel of this wine are harmony personified — every sip precise yet effortless, delicate yet intricately layered. It moves across the palate with quiet assurance, leaving nothing out of place. Rarely am I left momentarily speechless, but I continue to marvel at its quality-to-price ratio. I would not begrudge paying £100 for a bottle of this calibre. At its actual price, it borders on the absurd. If the evening proved anything, it is this: greatness is not the sole preserve of geography - nor of price. Burgundy remains the spiritual home of Pinot Noir. At its best, it is untouchable. But orthodoxy can become habit, and habit can quietly harden into limitation. That evening, three truths sat quietly on the table. Prestige does not guarantee transcendence; time spares no label and curiosity remains the most valuable currency in wine. The DRC reminded us that even legends fade. The Musigny proved that greatness can defy expectation. The By Farr unsettled hierarchy. Ghost Rock challenges geography and it will challenge your perception. The 2024 Climat quietly dismantles the notion that brilliance must be expensive. In the end, Pinot Noir rewards neither blind loyalty to region nor reverence for price, but a willingness to explore. Those who embrace that journey will rarely be disappointed… 
A recent 5-star review from Gavin Jones “It’s a fact of life that my ‘flexible friend’ is under constant bombardment from Stu’s epic and carefully considered recommendations. Am I complaining? Abso-bloody-lutely not! LAS Vino for example; this is such hot property in Oz and we have no idea how lucky we are to have easy access to the full range of this pristine modern wine making. My latest temptation was Ghost Rock Climat. I never buy Pinot! But was duly convinced and so not disappointed. Thank you Stu and supreme team - hands down my fav indie.” Pre-Arrival – Arriving end of June / early July “Some wines inspire loyalty - this Tassie Pinot demands it. With my hand on my heart, I cannot fault it. It is incredible.” 
Ghost Rock Climat Pinot Noir 2024 - 6x75cl Stuart McCloskey, tasted 28th January 2026 “Confessions of a devoted wineman: this Tasmanian Pinot Noir has stolen my heart. This is my third bottle. Bottle one was sampled under professional conditions (an order was placed). Bottle two was relished across a weekend, leaving me utterly gobsmacked. Do you know what? Some wines inspire loyalty - this Tassie Pinot demands it. With my hand on my heart, I cannot fault it. It is incredible. On Saturday evening, it even reminded me of a very fine, and very expensive Sonoma Pinot. This may well be the biggest faux pas of the year: I should have ordered much, much more. The bouquet dances between fruit and savouriness. Aromatics are heady, intoxicating, and serious: dried rose petals, black tea leaves, autumn hedgerow fruits, leather, warm seashells, blood orange, spice, dried herbs, and mushroom consommé. Very grown-up indeed. The palate flows in a stream of silken fruits. We speak of “flawlessness” - the feel and flow of this wine is harmony personified. Every sip is precise yet effortless, delicate yet multi-layered. Rarely am I left speechless, but I cannot get over this wine’s quality-to-price ratio. I would not mind paying £100 for it… so mesmerising. Tannins grip like a newborn baby. This is Tasmanian Pinot Noir at its absolute finest. Truly outstanding. Drink now to 2036+. Serve using Zalto Burgundy stemware (essential to receive the full impact, or find a glass that is similar in shape and form). I must ask Justin for more, which I will ship later this year. Buy for the cellar if you can. I would also bet £100 (to charity) that I will not encounter another Pinot Noir of the same quality-to-value in 2026.” RRP £210.00 per case (6x75cl) “Stylistically, this reminds me of the exquisite Pinots produced by DuMol.” 
Ghost Rock La Filles Pinot Noir 2024 - 6x75cl Stuart McCloskey, tasted 5th February 2026 “Again - this is, I believe, my third bottle (always best to be thorough!). Characteristically, the bouquet recalls Sonoma Pinot, and a very good one at that. The perfume is drop-dead gorgeous, as is the flavour and texture. In many respects, this should be enticement enough; after all, that’s what wine is all about. For the money, there is nothing to fault. This is certainly one of the most moreish bouquets I’ve inhaled in a long time. It exudes ripeness and power, with fruit firmly on the black-and-blue spectrum. I love the aromatic florals that provide lift, as does a noticeable twang of salinity. The spicing is the sweetest imaginable and utterly delectable - candied lavender alongside fresh mint crushed in the palm of your hand. With aeration, the fruit is gently tamed, turning more brooding in character. It’s packed with layers and finishes with an unmistakable tang of blood orange. With more airtime, black tea emerges, then smoked black tea. The perfume is a storybook all of its own. The palate is simply sumptuous - walking the tightrope between ripeness and adult complexity. Stylistically, this reminds me of the exquisite Pinots produced by DuMol, which I occasionally open at home. Perhaps toned down a smidgeon, but I’m confident in drawing the parallel. Textural silk: this slips and slides with consummate ease. The fruit is exquisite - beginning in blue and purple tones before finishing with high notes of cranberry. Sweet spicing and blood orange carry the experience for minutes. Tannins? The finest, most filigreed imaginable. Don’t be fooled by the lavish description: this wine displays crystalline purity. Such a dreamy bottle of Aussie Pinot. Drink now to 2036 - it will be fascinating to observe its progression over the next 6–8 years. Served using Zalto Burgundy stemware. Ridiculously good…” RRP £210.00 per case (6x75cl) Also available to pre-order as a mixed 6 pack, with three bottles of each wine... 
Ghost Rock La Filles and Climat Pinot Noir 2024 - Mixed Case 3 x Ghost Rock La Filles Pinot Noir 2024 RRP £210.00 per case (6x75cl) In stock and available for immediate delivery 
Two Paddocks Pinot Noir 2023 98 Points (Top Ranked Pinot Noir) Susie & Peter, Masters of Wine “For those rare people who don’t know the name, Two Paddocks is a Pinot Noir specialist in Central Otago with some of the most southerly vineyards in the world. Sure, it makes a bit of Riesling too, but Pinot is the true headlining act – well, alongside proprietor and celebrated actor Sam Neill, that is. (Not forgetting the scene-stealing Saddleback pigs that form part of what is a wider farming estate.) A self-declared Pinot Noir ‘obsessive’, with a family background in the wine trade, Sam told us about an early, formative experience tasting Burgundy with actor James Mason – fast forward to early 1993, when a chance encounter with a wine friend led him to plant his first vineyard in Gibbston. Since the first wine was made in 1997, the estate has grown to four vineyards, all organically farmed, with the sub-regions of Alexandra and Bannockburn joining the party (see notes on the Last Chance, Fusilier and First Paddock below). Although Central Otago initially made its name on the back of intense, structured, often quite dark-fruited and alcoholic Pinot Noirs, these wines prove there’s another side to the region. This Pinot is their ‘flagship’ blend of all four vineyards, from a relatively warm vintage but which finished in cool conditions. Winemaking involved 50% de-stemming, ambient yeast ferments and 11 months in French oak barrels (18% new). When we tasted it initially in the Wines of the Year line-up, it was immediately bright and engaging but with a definite brooding, autumnal, peaty, savoury dimension, insistent tannin, revitalising acidity and suggestive finish that hinted the wine was just getting going. So we left it. Then we came back. Then we opened another bottle and did the same, eventually tasting it up against all the other top Pinots in the lineup (including its sibling single-vineyard wines). And the truth is, it just kept getting more vibrant and winning and complex and rewarding. On a light frame, it delivers one hell of a performance, pulling together so many different threads of the great work being done on this estate. Two Paddocks’ strapline is: ‘In the Fine Wine & Cheering Up Business Since 1993.’ And this has to be the epitome of a cheerful fine wine.” £35.95 per bottle “Today, this is an exceptional Pinot Noir and will undoubtedly turn out to be a profound wine in 10-years. Quite incredible and must be close to perfection…” 
By Farr RP Pinot Noir 2022 Stuart McCloskey, February 2025 “Regardless of the vintage, By Farr Pinots have a bouquet all to themselves. Highly distinctive, deeply savoury, and powerful. Even at such a young age, the bouquet is immensely complex and takes time to unravel. Tobacco, woodsmoke and meat lead from the first pouring. With time - smoked red fruits, sous-bois, charred red peppers, dried herbs, undergrowth, layers of minerals, graphite, earth, pencil shaving, black tea, bergamot, iodine, and sweet spice emerge. This is an archetypal glass of autumn, by the fireside. Such a fascinating bouquet – limitless, in fact. The palate surprised me as I was expecting a behemoth. Instead, this is somewhat dialled-back, but not at the expense of power nor complexity. There’s a primal edge to the wine – transparent, unforced – nature as she intended. In truth, I am not sure where to begin with the flavours. The fruit feels wild (picked off the hedgerows during winter), there’s wild rose, the unmissable tang from blood orange, which provides freshness and lift. The flavours, density and textures fan-out beautifully. This is composed and sensual (almost tender – to quote ‘iron fist in a velvet glove’). Astonishing wine and difficult to comprehend. The length is amazing – this goes on for minutes. This has every ingredient (of the highest quality) to cellar for 20+ years. Today, this is an exceptional Pinot Noir and will undoubtedly turn out to be a profound wine in 10-years. Quite incredible and must be close to perfection… Served using Burgundy stemware. I would decant for 1-3 hours or, follow my lead and pour straight into the glass (and spend the next few hours unravelling). 99 Points – Huon Hooke, December 2024, RealReview.com £89.00 per bottle £430.00 per case under bond “The palate reminds me of Burgundy - Musigny, specifically. There’s wonderful lift and freshness.” 
Ghost Rock Oulton Pinot Noir 2024 Stuart McCloskey, tasted 5th February 2026 “This beauty requires more airtime. I suggest decanting for an hour or pouring into your glass for 30 minutes before attacking. It’s very, very different from the other two single-vineyard releases which I like to see. Red fruits soar from the glass - redcurrant, cranberry, pomegranate and cherry (with no sign of the black or blue spectrum). I also pick up orchard notes: slightly bruised apples and a distinctly earthy, damp orchard character. Well-rotted mulch, for sure. Blood orange, rosehip, an abundance of florals follow, layered with chalky minerals. So pure, complex, and utterly enticing. The palate reminds me of Burgundy - Musigny, specifically. Red fruits infuse with fresh orange sorbet (you’ll see). There’s wonderful lift and freshness, never sacrificed in favour of opulence. Super spicy, this tingles the senses, with salinity remaining at the core. Bright and edgy, with a pleasing nod to brambly undergrowth. Long - as long as a summer’s day. Tannins are pliant and non-intrusive. Certainly, the most classical and mineral-driven Pinot of the lineup. Stylish, confident, and I suspect it could be very special in 6–8 years’ time.” £35.00 per bottle “This is plumptious, juicy, ripe, and puts a whacking big smile on my face.” 
Ghost Rock Estate Pinot Noir 2024 Stuart McCloskey, tasted 21st January 2026 “Put simply, this is so moreish and difficult not to keep returning for another bottle… This does not set itself up to be something it is not. Granted, it lacks the intellectual qualities of the single estate wines however, it does deliver bags of flavour and personality. It is a joy, he says after opening three bottles in the first week of landing in the UK. This is plumptious, juicy, ripe, and puts a whacking big smile on my face following a long day at the office. The bouquet is glorious and invites you into a perfusion of aromatics – deep and pure red fruits, a smidgeon of plum, spice and florals are noticeable. Day two aromatics (same bottle!) or a few hours of aeration – It’s brooding with dark plum, there’s a background of cherry and raspberry sweetness, sandalwood, more spice, dried herbs, negroni vibes for sure (Campari bitterness) along with dried orange peel. The flavours and feel roll around the palate with such ease. Medium-bodied, tannins, acidity, fruit and oak are spread evenly. Silken texture. Flavours are ripe and concentrated – gosh, they go on for an age. This is an outright charmer and will win you over. I have no doubt this will age for 5-8-years however, I have zero intention as this is already singing a great tune today. Served using Zalto Burgundy stemware – essential for the best impact.” £25.00 per bottle Also available as a mixed six pack, with three bottles of Oulton and three Estate Pinot... 
Ghost Rock Mixed Pinot Noir 6 pack 3 x Ghost Rock Oulton Pinot Noir 2024 RRP £180.00 per case (6x75cl) “This is a pure, unadulterated Pinot Noir that shines a bright light on the producer, the varietal, the region and the quality of the vintage.” 
Ghost Rock Supernatural Pinot Noir 2024 Stuart McCloskey, tasted 26th February 2026 “The label may look fun however, this is an exceptional and super-delicious wine with all the structure and balance required to cellar confidently for at least 6–8 years. Perhaps it has something to do with 2024 being an outstanding and highly significant vintage for Tasmania - following four consecutive years of low yields, the region delivered fruit of remarkable quality. You’re getting far more than your money’s worth, that’s for sure. As the label suggests, this is a pure, unadulterated Pinot Noir that shines a bright light on the producer, the varietal, the region and the quality of the vintage. A dreamy, heady perfume rises immediately from the first pour - no decanting necessary. Wild strawberry, plum, raspberry, cranberry and pomegranate lead the charge, followed by sweet spice, vermouth botanicals, blood orange, with touches of wild hedgerow and rosehip. With air, a note of cold black tea emerges. Flavours dance across the palate. Fruit, tannins, and acidity stretch out harmoniously, again so pure and true to form. The palate is saturated with juiciness. Granted, it does not possess the depth or complexity of the single-vineyard collection; nevertheless, it is outright delicious. For the money, it cannot be faulted. The flow is seamless and uninterrupted. The flavours are ripe and beautifully mirror the perfume. Serving temperature: Slightly below room temperature is ideal, or even lightly chilled as summer approaches. A true joy to drink. Best served in Zalto Burgundy stemware - smaller glasses simply won’t achieve the same effect.” £21.00 per bottle Also available as a mixed six pack, with two bottles of each of the Ghost Rock Pinot Noirs 
Ghost Rock Mixed Pinot Noir 6 pack 2 x Ghost Rock Oulton Pinot Noir 2024 RRP £162.00 per case (6x75cl) “Texturally, this is perfect – sumptuous and impossible to put down. Given the price – this is perfect from beginning to end.” 
Two Tonne Tasmania EST Pinot Noir 2024 Stuart McCloskey, 03 October 2025 “Sampled over two days. Such an entrancing perfume – so seductive. It’s one of those wines that gets you tingling with excitement, and before the first sip. Raspberry, dark cherry, dried orange peel, sous bois, briar, rosehip, packed with spice, potpourri, a tingle from Sichuan pepper, wood smoke, and finally comes to a finish with more blood orange and a smidgeon of star anise. Sensational aromatic journey. There’s much to unravel with the palate. Texturally, this is perfect – sumptuous and impossible to put down. The tannins fit like a made to measure Savile Row suit. Exquisite control of the acidity, too. Fruit takes centre stage with fruitcake spicing adding a lovely touch. She’s medium-bodied, lithe, and very, very long in flavour and experience. A real beauty without knowing it. Amaro bitters and cranberry add such vivacity and complexity. Unquestionably, a class act as this brings a heavenly perfume, the purity of fruit, precision, and control under the one roof. Given the price – this is perfect from beginning to end. Drink now to 2033. The correct glass choice is paramount (I opted for Zalto’s Burgundy stem) and decant, too. One-to-two hours will do nicely.” £25.50 per bottle “The palate is medium-bodied, gloriously long and swoons with such elegance. This is moreish and ready to be enjoyed today.” 
Two Tonne Tasmania TMV Pinot Noir 2024 Stuart McCloskey, 03 October 2025 “Sampled over two days. Again, the correct glass choice is paramount (I opted for Zalto’s Burgundy stem) and decant, too. One-to-two hours will do nicely. The perfume brings instant gratification. Dried rose petals and sweet spices waft from the glass. And then we move onto a profusion of aromatics including (but not limited to, as this keeps giving) rosehip, cranberry, wild strawberry, fresh thyme, wood spicing, curry leaf, forest berries are lurking in the background along with an unmissable gust from the sea. Fans of Negroni will identify those telltale aromatics, too. Dried blood orange brings this to a resounding applause. Intense and wonderful. The palate is medium-bodied, gloriously long and swoons with such elegance. The flavours fan out, and the fruits feel on the wild, hedgerow side. Tannins are super-fine and the acidity provides succulence. There’s amaro bitterness on the finish, which I love… This is moreish and ready to be enjoyed today. Equally, this has all the qualities to cellar for 5-8-years. Stunning…” £25.50 per bottle Also available as a mixed six pack, with three bottles of each of the Two Tonne Pinot Noirs 
Two Tonne Tasmania Mixed Pinot Noir 6 pack 3 x Two Tonne Tasmania TMV Pinot Noir 2024 RRP £153.00 per case (6x75cl) 
“I spent an evening with the highly acclaimed 2023 Vasse Felix Heytesbury which won every Aussie award going... It was good to very good. This, without question, is a notch-up.” £31.00 per bottle 
Award Winning Zuccardi Olive Oil Awards aplenty - Including 99 / 100 Points awards by FLOS OLEI Only £12.95 per bottle |
