Pinot Noir from Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia
Unfiltered Wine Club, November 2024
"This wine has a really fun story. In the 1970s, an overzealous individual tried to smuggle vine cuttings from the vineyards of Domaine Romanée-Conti (DRC for short - one of the most prestigious and expensive Burgundy estates of all time) into South Australia. While going through customs, he got caught and was tossed in jail, and the vines were seized by the government and put into quarantine where they stayed for many years. Eventually, the government sold the vines to the highest bidder, and the people of Sidewood Estate were the lucky buyers! Long story short, this wine drinks like fine Burgundy, but rings true to the character of Adelaide Hills with its fruit-forward nature. The texture is light and soft with elegant, clean edges, and I got notes of red cherry, dried mushrooms, wet dark earth, tomato leaf, meat, and vegetal and baking spices. You could dunk your turkey right in this and be really happy. I also fantasized about having it with roasted duck breast and stewed mushrooms. Drink slightly cool!"