Provenance Ballarat Pinot Noir 2023

SPECIAL VALUE - From the Scotsburn vineyard planted at 510m. A light, bright ruby red. Reflects its cool origins with its aromas of red cherry, cranberry, pomegranate, lifted floral scents and spice. It's compact and nicely composed on the elegant, gently structured and persistent palate. It's a quiet wine, which I like, and this should really be singing once it fully opens up over the next four to six years. (96) PHILLIP RICH, James Halliday's Wine Companion

We should plant more Pinot in Ballarat. Why don't we? I mean, there are two great producers here, so I assume that means there is scope for more top notch vineyard space. Maybe we could bulldoze the mall in the city centre, no one goes there anyway, and plant Pinot? It's so hard to find this kind of fruit purity with Pinot in Oz, I really dig this. Lighter, but more fragrant, more suggestive of subtle things, some earthy, beetroot, rhubarb scents among the snappier, lively feel to things. Plenty of perfume here too, almost tips in to fresh mint with the cool feel to it. Really engaging, alluring thing that kept me zoned in for a while. Sappy, long and refined with admirable purity to the gentle seeming palate. There is a tonne here that will come out with time, and I expect it will loosen up a lot and fill out. When it does this may be the winner of the three. ROSCOE