Recognition

A riot of rosemary, tomato leaf, freshly turned earth, black and red cherry compote on the nose leads into an intense and suave core. A scaffolding of fine tannins provides structure for the pitch perfect black and red berries and savoury tones. Its assured framework and depth of flavour ensure this will age nicely, although its youthful nervosity charms right now.

Classic Pinot colour – mid-crimson to ruby scarlet, with touchstone varietal aromas, poached cherry with woody spices, a quintessential Pinot sensory attraction. That bushy spice feel finds an extra cedar-like gear in the palate, urged on by deftly weighted cherry and red plum fruit flavours, tightened in the finish with neatly integrated tannins. Everything fits together for an engaging expression of the variety and its southern coastal site.

2024 was a difficult vintage for Brian Croser and his team at the Foggy Hill vineyard. The conditions meant it would be one of the very smallest crops he has encountered in his long and illustrious career. Limited might be but the quality of the fruit certainly helped make up for the meagre yield. For this vintage,

The 2024 Pinot Noir Foggy Hill Vineyard leads with a dusty nose of dried flowers, pan-roasted spices, mahogany cupboard and aged leather. Cherry seeds also abound. In the mouth, the wine is lean and spicy, with a waxy splay of fine tannin through the finish. The wine is uncomplicated and red-fruited, with savory spices to close.

The Foggy Hill vineyard is located at 350 metres above sea level at Parawa on the Fleurieu Peninsula dead south of Adelaide. A tough vintage (2.5 tonnes per hectare), with only the 777 clone providing fruit for the release from 1/3 of the vineyard. 450 dozen made. 8 months in French oak barriques (1/3rd new).