Murdoch Hill Apollo Pinot Noir 2022

Murdoch Hill Apollo Pinot Noir is a single-vineyard Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir grown on the estate's Lenswood site.

Lenswood came into the family's hands only recently, and 2022 is the first year the entire blend has been drawn from it. Pinot was first planted there in 1989 and sits across four blocks: two early-2000s parcels of Dijon 114 and 115 facing southwest, and older D5V12 vines in the top corner, facing east. Michael Downer drew this release from the two 1989 blocks, one of them heavily seamed with ironstone that pushes the tannin deeper, plus one of the 114/115 parcels. Each went into its own 2.2-tonne fermenter, and the three arrive in roughly equal measure. A cool season pulled whole bunches back to 20 per cent. Nine months followed in French and Austrian demi-muids, puncheons and barriques, 40 per cent new and chosen tight-grained for texture over flavour.

Red berries and darker fruit first, then savoury spice, turned earth and a whiff of smoky reduction. The palate is fleshy but finely drawn, the tannins fluid, the acid clean. Serve at 14 to 16 degrees with duck, mushroom risotto or roast pork belly.

*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.