Garagiste Merricks Pinot Noir 2021

Garagiste Merricks Pinot Noir is a Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir with a high whole-bunch component.

Merricks is always the last of the sites to ripen, so this is the final fruit through the winery door each year. In 2021 the concentration was such that 60 per cent of the ferment went in as whole bunches, well above the usual, and the stems have added a savoury edge and a more complex tannin profile. Everything after that was deliberately hands-off: a natural ferment, gentle extraction with no attempt to force colour or weight, and ten months in barrel with a quarter of the wood new. It is the approach Barney Flanders applies across the range, and the fruit does the talking.

Dark cherry, sous bois and dried herb, with stemmy spice and tannins that grip without drying. Give it 15 degrees and an hour in the decanter. Roast duck, lamb shoulder or mushrooms with thyme and butter.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.