Description

Tasting Note

Grape

Indigenous to northern France, but now grown all over the world in cooler zones, Pinot Noir is one of the greatest red varieties producing wines with a wonderfully aromatic nose and silky texture. Thins skins give Pinots a lightish colour, but levels of tannins are nonetheless high. Typically wines have medium acidity, medium body with red cherry and berry aromas in youth and develop more funky farmyard notes with age.

Producer

Randomly Gareth and Rainbo Belton are two of Australia’s leading experts in seaweed who caught the wine bug a few years ago and now run a winery making small batches of fun and creative wines in the rolling vineyards of the Basket Range in the Adelaide Hills. Gareth farms their three vineyards himself. He works organically in the vineyard and strives to work naturally in the cellar although some sulphur may be used. The Gentle Folk wines have an energy and style all their own.

Region

Adelaide Hills is a wine growing area in the Mount Lofty Ranges region of South Australia. It is one of the largest wine regions in the state, reaching the Fleurieu Peninsula and McLaren Vale in the south, and the Barossa and Eden Valleys in the north. The key grapes here are Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Semillon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; the latter two also go into the region’s sparkling wines. The white still wines are characterized by clean and fresh varietal flavors and crisp natural acidity. Key to the region’s grape growing is the altitude of its vineyards, which range from 400 to 650 meters (1,300 to 2,100ft). This gives the region – in an Australian context – a cool climate.

Food Pairing

With good acidity and medium weight Pinot Noir is a very food friendly style that works well with red meats and hard cheese. With a bit of age the wines are excellent with game, venison, wild mushrooms and truffles.