Garagiste Terre De Feu Pinot Noir 2016

Cropped from a specific 0.5-acre plot of the Merricks Grove vineyard, Terre de Feu (the land of fire) takes its name from the vein of pure red ferrosol in this part of the vineyard. As exciting as the 2014 and 2015 were, this year’s wine is a step up with a finer balance and integration of all components. A lifted yet restrained and complex nose with red fruits, smoke, bacon and thyme notes leading to an intense, deep palate with a core of silky Pinot fruit framed by fine, powdery tannins. Long, long, long. A seriously delicious Pinot. Terre de Feu remains Garagiste’s only 100% whole bunch Pinot and the wine also sees a little more new oak.

A whole lotta bunchy spice, positive pencilly oak, liquorice/aniseed richness, darker fruits (from memory). Firm in the mouth with terrific line, a carpet of deliciously earthy tannin, and a bold and long finish. I wasn’t really taking notes for the purposes of publishing, more as an aide-mémoire, but this wine prompted me to put finger to keyboard. Well done Barney Flanders. Hi-diddly-ho! 95 Points, Gary Walsh, The Winefront.