Product Info:
Place of Changing Winds is roughly equidistant between Mount Macedon and Mount Bullengarook, hence the name of this cuvée, which is essentially the most representative Pinot of the season.
It’s a fine, textural Pinot produced from all the estate’s plots (including the highest-density vines), save what went into the tiny Beyond the Forest cuvée. It spent 18 months maturing in Stockinger casks with 50% new oak (although this new component was a 1,000 cask, so it has very little impact). It’s a wine that will drink well young and has significant cellaring potential. It was bottled in January 2024.
Maker:
Place of Changing Winds is a unique high-density vineyard situated on the southern foothills of Mount Macedon in central Victoria, Australia. Established in 2012 by wine buyer and importer Robert Walters, with the aim to create a small, high-density vineyard that could produce exceptional wines. The winery is named after its original name given by the Wurundjeri people, who called it Warekilla, or Place of Changing Winds, which still holds true today. This winery produces two sets of wines - Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from their own vines, and Syrah, Marsanne from two grower vineyards, which showcase the distinct characteristics of each region. The Estate wines from Place of Changing Winds are exclusively from their property, which has an altitude of 500 meters above sea level. This cool site has good rain, cold nights and a wide diurnal range, which is surrounded by native plantings and thousands of hectares of forest.
Philosophy:
The vineyard is one of a kind, with a high density of almost 45,000 vines planted across 3.1 hectares, with densities ranging from 12,000 to 33,000 vines per hectare. Over the last decade, the winery has developed a meticulous viticulture system with no synthetic chemicals used, adapted specifically to their vineyard. The cellar is next to the vines, ensuring the fruit goes directly to the fermenters within minutes. The Estate Series wines reflect the winery's no-compromise approach and the uniqueness of their place. In addition to their Estate wines, Place of Changing Winds produces Syrah and Marsanne from two grower vineyards further north, located in the Heathcote region and Harcourt. The vineyards are managed organically, and the winery team is involved in all the viticultural decisions, including the picking dates. The goal is to craft wines of great finesse, perfume and drinkability that showcase the unique terroir of each place.
Nose - Woody Spice, Nori, Truffle-Like
A sheath of lacy, granitic tannin over dark cherry, tumbles of dried herbs, woody spice, some nori and truffle-like characters.
Palate - Tart Cherry Juice, Dried Currants, Sweet Cherry
A tensioned pinot, rich in sweet cherry fruit, that is excellent now but promises more in the future.
Finish - Refined, Focused, Firm and Fine Tannins
Intense and focused flavour augmented by fine and firm tannins, the finish extending very long.
Named for its more or less equidistance between Mount Macedon and Mount Bullengarook. Produced from all plots on the estate. Matured in 50% new and old Stockinger casks. Svelte and sleek with distinct succulence and pucker. A sheath of lacy, granitic tannin over dark cherry, tumbles of dried herbs, woody spice, some nori and truffle-like characters in the mix and a general sense of ultra pure, tart cherry juice and flecks of dried currant and cranberry. A real feast for the senses here. Incredible extension of flavour and an almost unnerving consistency to texture in all that – a long and exacting ride of character and charm. Loads of evocative perfume too. Wonderful, all up. - Mike Bennie, The Wine Front, 96+ Points.
Good depth and hue of colour, with a sandalwood aroma, liberal oak evident, over dark cherry fruit which built in fragrance with time in the glass. The palate is elegantly structured and refined, with intense and focused flavour augmented by fine and firm tannins, the finish extending very long. A tensioned pinot, rich in sweet cherry fruit, that is excellent now but promises more in the future. - Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 96 points.
The 2022 Between Two Mountains Pinot Noir is spicy and fine on the nose, with cherry pip, raspberry leaf, crushed rocks, pumice stone tannins and black tea. In the mouth, the wine is all about rose petals and iron, silty tannins and lashings of blood plum skin, with violets and Pink Lady apples, rosemary, blood orange, arnica and a very gentle amaro persuasion. A light finish is made persistent by enduring tannins that chew and sway. It's so nice. Distinct. It's easy to swoon somewhat over the packaging, which is not important to wine quality but an indication of aesthetics. It matured for 18 months in Stockinger casks (50% new) and was bottled in January 2024. 13.2% alcohol, sealed under Diam. - Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate, 94+ Points.
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - Australia
Region - Heathcote, Victoria
Vintage - 2022
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.2%
Other - Organic
