Stonier International Pinot Tasting

SIPNOT, as the acronym goes, is one Australia’s most fascinating tastings.

The’sold out’ event featured pinots from Oregon (1), Australia (3), NZ (3) and Burgundy (5). The tasting was presided over by wine writers Huon Hooke and Nick Bulleid MW, Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein and the (very recently ex) Stonier Vineyard winemaker Geraldine McFaul.

The wines, with sell prices and my comments, were -

2005 Beaux Freres The Vineyard Pinot (Oregon) $190: sumptuous and glorious, quince, liqueur cherry, like chewing on rose petals

2006 Bream Creek Pinot Noir (TAS) $29: intense dark fruits and plums, brilliant fruit, nice chalky finish

2005 Dom Taupenot Morey St Denis La Riotte (FR) $125: hmmm… manure over floral over minerals, aka more than a little ‘brett’

2006 Neudorf Moutere Pinot (NZ) $69: mint & red currant, nicely chewy with fine texture

2005 Dom Confuron-Cotetidot Vosne Romanee (FR) $99: soft, sweet spices, anise with bittersweet finish, interesting

2006 Martinborough Vineyards Pinot (NZ) $75: pretty darn good, rich plummy fruit plus dark currants; soft and fleshy, persistent

2005 Georges Roumier Chambolle Musigny (FR) $140: magnificent; spicy, fleshy, warm and cuddly, cinnamon, otherworldly, a Peking duck wine par excellence

2006 Stonier Reserve Pinot (VIC) $50: red currant and violet, fresh herbs & rhubarb, pinot purity

2006 Punch Close Planted Lance’s Vineyard Pinot (VIC) $90: Fascinating bouquet, medicinal gives way to floral; orange & spice

2005 Domaine Dujac Gevrey-Chambertin Charmes Chambertin (FR) $265: sulphidic (burnt matchstick), plum and coffee; hard on the finish, dry, “Stolid & dumb” said a panellist

2006 Felton Road Block 3 Pinot (NZ) $95: brilliant, lovely jubey sweet fruit, intense, finest talc-like finish

2005 Dom Simon Bize Savigny les Beaune Aux Vergelesses (FR) $115: musty, struggling to find the fruit, a bit mean, aka ‘scalping’ due to touch of party-pooping TCA

So, what did we learn?

Three of the five Burgundies had technical problems – overt sulphur, brett and TCA. But what’s new?

Beaux Freres, Felton Road and Martinborough Vineyards are rightly ‘new world’ pinot champions.

And Fred Peacock’s Bream Creek Pinot is a bargain, but we knew that already. In fact, we’ve told you so. Wine writer Peter Bourne was moved to pop out of his chair and suggest that Fred should employ a new marketing manager (he doesn’t actually have one) as his prices were way too low. Pinot Shop made naysay catcalls from the back of the room along the lines of ‘Don’t even suggest it because at this price everyone can buy it.’ You have, however, been warned; Fred will ultimately get the message. BUY NOW - 2006 Bream Creek Pinot $29

2006 Beaux Freres Pinot has just arrived. This wine is every inch the equal of the 2005 in the SIPNOT tasting, in fact I recognised the ‘05 from having tasted the lovely, lovely 2006 Beaux Freres a couple of weeks ago. The price of $190 is worth your hard-earned dollars, something that can’t always be said of Burgundy. This wine is also available in our Pinot Hedonist’s Trio

What’s coming?

2006 Martinborough Vineyards Pinot is on the water and will be in store soon.

Next time around, maybe…

Felton Road Block 3 (‘06 & ‘07 vintages) came and went in a flash (last year and this) and our small allocation of Georges Roumier is already promised to an eager SIPNOT attendee. In the cut throat world of wine, it is the quick and the have nots…