Altamont Pinot Noir 2019

Altamont Pinot Noir from Altamont Wine Studios – previously run by Brendon and Kirsty Keys of famed Adelaide Hills winery BK – has been operating for a few years, with a wee gap in the middle whilst ownership changed hands. Michael Sawyer and Michael Morrissey of wine producer and wholesaler Aus Craft Wine are now the sole owners of Altamont. Wine was not produced in 2015 or 2016, but Altamont is back in full production! The wines are made at Tapanappa winery, and include Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and of course Pinot Noir.

Fruit for all of these wines is sourced from across the Adelaide Hills, and crafted into punchy, delicious wines by Swayer, the winemaker of the duo. As well as running his own eponymous label with his wife Zoe, he is responsible for fruit sourcing and winemaking at Altamont. After vintages in the Rhône Valley, Willamette Valley, the Riverland and McLaren Vale, his home is the Adelaide Hills, and the diverse tapestry of vineyards it holds. The wines are rich and fruit forward, but with ample acidity and freshness. Great stuff.

This is a powerful expression of Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir – ruby red, translucent but slightly cloudy due to being unfiltered, and bursting with fruit. Plenty of ripe plum and mixed berries, cherry liqueur and brown spices. Hints of mocha and vanilla shine through as well, from the generous French oak. Best drunk slightly chilled to dial down some of the heat and weight, this is full throttle fun.

Handpicked and chilled to 4 degrees before crushing to 1 ton fermenters. Half the open fermenters had 30% whole bunch berries and half the fermenters with 60 % whole bunch berries. Gently hand plunged once daily during the 14 day fermentation.
The 60% whole bunch fermentation was gently squeezed halfway during fermentation in the fermenter and left to ferment to dry. The 30% whole bunch was left to ferment to dry.

Best deal anywhere, only at Winenutt $21.50 a bottle!

Find out more about this wine:
The Winery

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