2025 Pinot Noir

Winter rainfall was in line with the long-term average, maintaining soil moisture and supporting steady early growth, while a slightly drier spring created ideal flowering conditions. A mild summer with timely rainfall delivered healthy canopies and wellformed bunches, and a cool, dry lead-up to veraison ensured slow, even ripening and excellent acid retention. Harvest ran slightly later than previous seasons, producing balanced fruit with structure.

All hand-picked fruit is fermented as a combination of whole berries and whole bunches, in open wooden and stainless fermenters, with gentle plunging. Aged for 10 months in French oak, of which about one third was new.

The ascension of Tolpuddle Pinot Noir continues at speed. This is another superb release; it’s structured, it’s balanced, it’s lengthy and yet – once it has all the credentials of quality covered – it’s also generous, and indeed delicious. This is a Pinot Noir that you want to both stand and admire, and sink into. Plush cherry-plum flavours meet sweet spice, roasted nuts, undergrowth and red roses. You can’t help but be impressed; for flavour, feel and length, this wine has all the angles covered.

95 points – Campbell Mattinson.