Bubb + Pooley WKR Pinot Noir 2022

The first Single Vineyard release from the White Kangaroo Road Vineyard which was purchased in 2021. The vineyard was planted in 2000 to UC Davis Pinot Noir clones G5V15 (60 %) and D5V12 (40 %) on on own roots on sandy loams over clay. No herbicide was used for this vintage and the yield was 3 t/ha. Fermented with 20 % whole bunches and matured for 11 months in new Cavin French oak barriques (60 %) and one concrete tulip (40 %). Bottled filtered, un-fined. 210 dozen made.
There’s a notable brightness at play, with red fruits and florals meshed with subtly savoury spice notes. Sour cherries, tart raspberries, pomegranate, white pepper on fresh strawberry, with hints of rose petal, rhubarb, bergamot tea and a dusting of ground cassia. Youthful, the tannins are tight knit, fine but grippy, showing a subtle assertiveness allied with pleasingly cool acidity, an architecture that’s made to carry the flavours as they unfurl and complex with time. Overall, the feel has a sharp spotlight on fruit and place, with the winemaking hiding quietly in the wings, supporting, not intruding. With air, the wine fleshes out, with nervier elements fleshing up, tannins plumping, and the subtly fragrant kick of whole bunch lifting out spicier notes to frame the fruit. Anna Pooley