Bindi Pyrette Heathcote Shiraz 2021

Producer Profile

The Bindi farm is large 170ha, but only 7ha is planted to vines; 2ha Chardonnay and 5ha Pinot Noir, yielding a minuscule 2-3  thousand cases a year. Everything in the vineyard is done by hand and with organic practices in mind. Irrigation has been installed and used only when absolutely necessary. Interestingly, it’s the high density plantings (11300 per hectare) that seem to suffer the least, despite the evident competition. Could it be that the plants’ canopy shade one another and the soil from water evaporation? The soils are well drained, with quarts over siltstone, sandstone and clay. Reflected in nature’s design, the  wines are fresh, bright and intensely aromatic, with a voluptuous shape and penetrating sensuality. Clay, is a godsend here.

The wines are made ala Burgundy, simply. Natural ferments, the use of solids in Chardonnay, gentle extraction in reds and long ageing in barrel. Both colours are unfined and unfiltered. Simple winemaking for the incredible qualities of site and the farms unbelievable attention to detail. With a name such as Bindi and the wines on a plateau matched by few, it is natural to think that there is plenty more land on that farm of theirs, but they don’t have any intention of increasing their vineyards anytime soon.

There are two ranges of wines, those Pinot Noir and Chardonnay only grown off the Bindi farm, and other wines such as the Dhillon Grenache and Pyrette Syrah. I cannot stress enough the excellence of the wines grown from non-Bindi fruit. They are absolutely terrific, excellent value for money fine wines that should not be missed. Michael Dhillon is a master craftsmen and all wines are subject to the same philosophy of beautiful fruit grown from great sites, made simply.

The whites are dazzling in their intensity and attack and are shaped like an inverted pyramid. The entry onto the palate is like threading a needle, which then fans out across the palate. It is very difficult to describe the sheer depth, width and breadth of palate, yet with a structure so firm, fine and linear. The pinot noirs are sensual and round in shape. Pretty and floral, they combine wonderful fruit purity, savoury tannins, fresh compost, sweet and savoury spice, exotic fruits and herbs. I know not of any Pinot Noir in Australia that is so wildly and animally refined. Their ageing potential will be measured in decades, and I dare you to wait that long.