Due to the loss of the 2020 vintage (smoke), we have held back the 2019 Maipenrai Pinot Noir for an extra 9 months. We think the wait has been worthwhile, as the wine is an outstanding example of what our vineyard is capable of in a cooperative vintage. Available until sold out, which normally happens quite quickly.

$220 per case of 6 (includes shipping to NSW, ACT, VIC, Adelaide, or Brisbane - other destinations there is a small charge). Wine will be shipped within 2 weeks by Australian Post (via Mount Majura Winery). Limit 1 case per customer.

Looking towards the future, unfortunately, the 2021 and 2022 vintages are very small - so I am sorry to say we will need to restrict availability to 3 bottles per person when these wines are released in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and it is likely our long-term customes will exhaust all of our supplies. Let's hope 2023 provides a bit larger crop.

2019 Maipenrai Pinot Noir

With a fence to keep the kangaroos that destroyed the 2018 crop out of the vineyard, we had a successful budburst for 2018/19 vintage on schedule around October 1st. After a dryer than average winter, but of relatively normal temperature, things warmed up quickly in mid October. Given the lack of rain and warm temperatures, we needed to start watering early. Flowering occurred as per the norm in the 2nd-half of November, with temperatures warmish, but in the zone of normality. We received some much needed rain starting in mid-December, but the warmish weather turned to extreme-heat in January with Maipenrai hitting 40C for the first time in its history on January 16th. January had 21 days at Maipenrai over 30C - by far the hottest month we had ever had (although this heat was again eclipsed in the doomed 2020 vintage). By watering, we kept the vineyard happy - and this type of heat made the berries small, and slowed the growing season down a bit so that veraison (when grapes turn colour) happened at a fairly typical time of Feb 2nd. The ripening period was much more civilised with respect to temperature - warm compared to normal- but not hot. We picked 2.5tonnes of grapes from our vineyard on March 17th. With 20% whole bunches in the vat, our wild ferments went through without drama, with the wines kept in French Oak (1/3rd new) for 22 months.

The 2019 Maipenrai Pinot Noir has a medium-rich ruby colour, with a complex nose of forest floor. On the palate, it is medium bodied, with some fine tannins up front, plummy fruit, and a long lingering finish with the oft-described peacock's tail of flavours, all supported by a scaffold of cedary oak. While approachable now, it will improve over the next 5-10 years if kept well cellared. Overall, a highly successful vintage, that despite the heat, has produced a formidable and distinctively excellent Pinot Noir.