Pinot Noir Doctors Flat, Bannockburn, Wild Irishman 2021

The Doctors Flat vineyard is situated next to Felton Road in Bannockburn. The vines were planted in 2002. Production in 2021 was 2500 bottles matured in French oak - 25% new. Bright ruby colour with a polished blue fruit note shining through on the nose. Layers of white pepper, bright cherries and a touch of wood smoke come through with air. The palate has ample structure with fine but full tannins framing a flehsy core of fruit. Grip and spice come together, enveloping succulent red and blue fruit tones. This is a Pinot Noir that is built to last, it should soften nicely with two years in bottle and offer great drinking pleasure for over a decade. Spiced and seasoned with pepper and saline fruit on the finish, it is long, deep and impressive.

Compared with Wild Irishman's two other debut releases, the 2021 Doctor's Flat Vineyard offers a sense of firmness, boldness and richness. Not only does it have a more brooding nose and flavor profile, which sits in the cherry fruit, aniseed and mocha spectrum, but the wine's structure displays richer depths. This is a Pinot Noir with muscle and an abundance of grippy veiled tannins. It is the most ageworthy of the Wild Irishman trio and will require a little patience but it is already looking mighty fine. Just the third vintage of this wine, it is, in the words of fellow northern Irishman and comedian Frank Carson: 'a cracker.' Drink 2025-2038.