Moondarra 2017 Conception Pinot Noir

Moondarra maestro Neil Prentice is not short of courage. He brought his Gippsland wines to Hobart in Tasmania - the hottest pinot noir region in the country right now - and showed them against some of the best of Apple Isle at the Mould+Pinot Palooza event. Good news for Prentice: they more than held their own. This is a very pretty, medium-bodied pinot that shows cherry and strawberry characters after the fruit (one-third whole bunch) is hand-picked and processed on site. This is wild fermented, undegoes pigeage (foot stomping), and is then aged in Troncais oak. The Moondarra team recommend pairing it with peking duck, but is also goes very well with blue cheese. Versatile then. Funky with some bitey minerality, but also silky on the finish. Unfined, unfiltered and just a little bit French accented. It is also “accidentally vegan”. $50. www.moondarra.com.au/