Innocent Bystander Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2019  £17.95

Innocent Bystander Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 

Innocent Bystander's reputation has been built upon the style of their regional and varietal wines, which reflect the soil, climate and topography of the cool Yarra Valley. Owned by one of Australia's leading family-owned wine companies, Brown Brothers, the Yarra Valley fruit is harvested and immediately transported to their winery in Milawa, Northern Victoria. Here the winemaking team process the grapes in their 'Kindergarten Winery', specially designed for small batches and different winemaking techniques for minimal intervention.

This wine is produced from a number of vineyards that span the Yarra Valley from Paul's Range at Dixons Creek in the north across to Bastard Hill in the very cool southern Upper Yarra. The vineyards were chosen in particular for their high diurnal temperature range, resulting in wines with high natural acidity and low pH. Yields are less than seven tonnes per hectare.

A strong vintage for Pinot Noir in the Yarra Valley, both upper and lower. The wines benefited from the longer hang time provided by a cool January and February, allowing flavours to fully develop.

All grapes were handpicked and destemmed, with 10% kept as whole bunches. The must be cold-soaked for four days before fermentation took place in stainless steel open fermenters with daily hand plunging. The wine was matured in a combination of French oak (10% new) and stainless steel tanks for nine months.

This Pinot Noir has aromas of boysenberries, cherry and cranberry with earthy notes of dried spices. On the palate, this wine has a velvety mouthfeel with soft savoury tannins which make a lovely finish.