2023 Gentle Folk Little Creek Pinot Noir

The 2023 Little Creek Pinot Noir is a true survivor’s wine. Grown on a vineyard that’s notoriously tricky to manage in wet conditions, the 2023 vintage was hit hard by mildew due to the cold, damp weather. But despite the challenges, what came out of the Little Creek site is nothing short of remarkable. Only two barrels were produced, making this wine as rare as it is exceptional.

The Little Creek vineyard sits at 505 metres in Norton Summit, with vines that are now over 30 years old. The northeast and southwest-facing slopes, combined with soils rich in quartz and siltstone, give this Pinot a more delicate, perfumed edge compared to its bolder siblings. Aromatically, it’s ethereal—light, floral, and almost pixie-like—yet beneath that elegance is a subtle earthiness and savoury finish that keeps things grounded.

Fermented with 100% destemmed fruit and aged for 10 months in neutral French oak, the winemaking here is all about letting the vineyard shine. At 12.2% ABV, it’s lighter in body but rich in character, with just 921 bottles produced, making it an exclusive snapshot of the site and the season.

For lovers of refined, perfumed Pinot Noir, the 2023 Little Creek offers an enchanting, limited-time taste of a very special vineyard and a challenging year.

94 Points
"Spicy, slurpy, soft and hazy textured number at just shy of medium weight. Dark cherries, a touch of cola, cranberry, dried Italian herbs, a squish of pomegranate juice too. Red berried but with some smoky spice, earthiness and brambly characters. A sweetness builds here, it’s nicely countered by tart, blood orange acidity with a very distinct peppery overlay, a kind of clash, but in the best sense. Almost a brittle tannin profile, lively in its way. It’s good. It’s expressive and character-filled."
- Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)