Michael Hall Pinot Noir 2024

A swish to texture, a finesse of fruit, spice, savoury elements, a fog of floral yet spicy perfume, a finish that fans out and lingers. Mills & Boon moments in a glass. This shows dark and red cherry fruit laced with cinnamon, light clove notes, aniseed and dried sage leaf, yet the wine lifts up on cool blood orange acidity and is shaped with gentle suede tannins. Just so, and utterly delicious. GOLD MEDAL, MIKE BENNIE, www.winecompanion.com.au

The fruit doesn’t come first here; it’s the herbs and the alpine air, moist earth and mossy wood that put you right on the forest floor path signifying serious Pinot Noir vibrations. Acidity keeps all of the flavours in fine line and length. It’s a wine in which you are served an elegant balance between cool fruit, earth, gentle notes of peppery spice, and as a result, an overall amaro/Campari feel to the wine. This is a beautiful definition of Pinot Noir. KASIA SOBISIAK, www.winefront.com.au