Savaterre Pinot Noir 2021
Savaterre is positioned on an elevated site with amphitheatre views across the King Valley in the rolling peaks and valleys of Beechworth. Located across the road from Giaconda, the site was discovered in 1996 by Keppell Smith, owner and winemaker. The close-planted vineyard is on ancient granitic soils at 440 metre (above sea level) and blessed with mild summer days, cool evenings thanks to the lofty elevation of the Victorian Alps. Viticulture follows low input principles and yields are less than two tonnes/acres. In the cellar, Kepp employs Burgundian techniques with the aid of indigenous yeasts. Each wine, be it Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Shiraz has individuality and striking concentration. Savaterre's well structured Chardonnay is matured in generous new and seasoned tight grained French oak for up to 19 months. Chardonnay undoubtedly Savaterre’s hero. The Pinot Noir is deep and layered with cherry stone/chocolate aromas and plenty of richness and flavour, and shrewdly bottle aged before release. Finally the Shiraz, or should we say Syrah? Always highly perfumed with distinct red fruit preserve and floral character. Mid weight, velvety, seamless and almost pinot-like in its vibrancy and weightlessness. Super fine tannins and in a neat frame.
Savaterre's elevated, close planted vineyard is farmed with organic principles. No pesticides are used. The soil consists of ancient granitic “buckshot” over decomposed clay. These unique gravels are rich in minerals and provide excellent drainage whilst the clay provides some sustained water to the vines in summer. This ancient, poor soil naturally limits the cropping level to less than 4.5 tons per hectare. The vines are close planted at 7500 vines per hectare . This allows the vine to carry a smaller crop and direct all its energies to producing intense flavours and wonderful textures - traits that are found primarily in only outstanding vineyards. This unique combination of soil, climate and viticulture provides Savaterre with intense fruit of the very highest quality. The grapes are hand picked in the cool of the autumn morning and transported to the winery which is next to the vineyard. Savaterre's vineyard has been named in the top 25 vineyards in Australia.
From a long cool vintage, and Kepp says 'There's bugger all of it'. The wine will be labelled 'Reserve' only when the year is good enough. This is a delicious, juicy, fragrant wine. Lifted aroma of dewy rose petal, sour cherry, pomegranate, raspberry and ripe red berry fruits, exotic spices with a subtle gamey truffle finish. Pure, focused and precise with great length, texture and persistence. An elegant wine of depth, complexity and finesse. Open this wine and decant a few hours before enjoyment as this wine continues to evolve and reveal its nuances over many hours.
Nose - Aromatic, Spicy Complexity, Forest Floor
This is a delicious, juicy, fragrant wine. Lifted aroma of dewy rose petal, sour cherry, pomegranate, raspberry and ripe red berry fruits
Palate - Cedar, Red Cherry, Forest Berries, Exotic Spices
Red fruits carry over to the palate, exotic spices with a subtle gamey truffle finish.
Finish - Leaf litter, Fresh, Blood Orange Lift
Finishes pure, focused and precise with great texture, persistence with a blood orange lift
Aromatic, spicy, lots of savoury complexity here and autumnal character aplenty, pencil/cedar oak, flickers of liquorice root emerge with air. Mix of red cherry and red fruits, an earthy leaf litter character, light, fresh, gently sappy, tannins are subtle and buried in the wine, some blood orange in the mix. Excellent length. Such character. I'd say it's the best Pinot Noir they've released to date. - Gary Walsh, The Winefront, 96 Points.
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - Australia
Region - Beechworth, Victoria
Vintage - 2021
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - %