Allies Balnarring Pinot Noir 750

Description

Balnarring is a foothills vineyard situated East of Merricks and atop the Tubbarubba plateau at an elevation of 95 metres. The combination of a Northerly aspect and lower elevation means that this vineyard ripens a week earlier than Merricks but still two weeks later than nearby Tuerong. The character of the wines is somewhere between Merricks and Tuerong, with riper flavours but still excellent retained acidity. It's slightly warmer as you come down the hill and Balnarring can produce wonderfully opulent Pinots that still manage to retain a core of refreshing acidity. The 2021 is the standout wine for sheer power, depth and length yet without any accompanying over ripeness. Despite the cooler vintage, Balnarring was picked at about the same date as previous years. This is explained by the low yields which also explains the extra levels of concentration. I have this love hate relationship with whole bunches in Pinot Noir. In the right year and the right vineyard it gives wonderful support and complexity but at other times, its an unwelcome intrusion that interferes with the wine’s intrinsic beauty. The concentration and power of the 2021 Balnarring needed some extra tannin structure and the fine savoury herbal notes from a fair whack of stems have greatly increased its complexity without taking away from its essential character. Its dark and brooding, very complex and powerful. It also very young and probably demands a bit more time in bottle to show its best.