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Description
Finding good-value Pinot Noir made by artisan producers is a difficult thing.
Pinot's delicate nature means it needs to be nursed to bottle. That extra care takes time and money, hence the soaring price of the best examples in the country. We've done the hunting for you to get you six of the best value examples that we could find at a very good price. A no-brainer pack for the Pinotphiles out there.
- 2023 Gilbert Pinot Noir
- 2023 Mac Forbes Yarra Valley Pinot Noir
- 2024 Garagiste Le Stagiaire Pinot Noir
- 2023 Two Tonne Tasmania TMV Pinot Noir
- 2024 Dr Edge Pinot Rain Pinot Noir
- 2024 William Downie Cathedral Pinot Noir
2023 Gilbert Pinot Noir
Will Gilbert is back at it again, turning out another belter with this elegant, spicy Pinot Noir from the cool climate vineyards of Orange. Taking full advantage of the volcanic soils and high altitude of the region, this is a perfect drop for those easy-going nights when you just want a solid, delicious red without too much fuss.
With cherries and red berries upfront, a dusting of spice, and those earthy, wet-leaf notes that make Pinot fans weak at the knees, this wine is the perfect answer when that itch for Pinot strikes. A touch of creamy, spiced oak brings it all together, while the finish is clean, with a delicate hint of orange zest that keeps you coming back for more.
Will is one of the most exciting young winemakers in the country (and he’s got the awards to prove it), so you know you’re in good hands. And at this price? It’s an absolute steal for everyday drinking. If you like your Pinots light on the ego but heavy on the flavour, this is the one to pop open.
94 points
"Red cherry, strawberry, quite a lot of peppery spice, red capsicum, some mint and amaro quality. It’s light to medium-bodied, frisky and fresh, kind of sappy too, but it pops with energy, all that ripe strawberry and spice, a lick of dusty graphite tannin, with a juicy blood orange and fennel-laced finish of excellent length. So vital and refreshing. It’s different, but so very good to drink. And plus one point for that!"
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
2023 Mac Forbes Yarra Valley Pinot Noir
Mac Forbes is passionate about Pinot Noir, and his 'Yarra Valley' release is the perfect way to get to know his unique style.
It comes from declassified portions of Mac's six single vineyard Pinots, taking on characters of each to present a beautifully balanced wine that reflects what quality Yarra Pinot is all about.
This gives the drinker an immediate insight into Mac Forbes' ethos. He stands for quality, and this characterful Pinot is sensational value.
94 points
"What a delight. This wine really delivers the goods. It’s pure Pinot Noir."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
2024 Garagiste Le Stagiaire Pinot Noir
Barney Flanders loves Pinot Noir, and every release of the value-packed Le Stagiaire Pinot Noir seems to out do the previous one. It has been one of the most popular wines in Different Drop history.
Winemaker Barney Flanders, known for his dedication to Pinot, blends fruit from several of his top vineyards, with Merricks North’s 30-year-old Dijon clones adding plushness and floral lift to the structured MV6 clones from Balnarring, Red Hill, and Merricks Grove.
Crafted with a gentle touch, this wine goes through wild fermentation with minimal whole bunches, 21 days on skins, and careful ageing in concrete, large foudre, and old oak barrels. It’s bottled unfined and unfiltered, keeping every bit of its savoury complexity and purity intact. The result is a beautifully balanced Pinot, layered with red berries, spice, and an earthy edge, all tied together by a refreshing mineral streak.
Simply put this wine represents the essence of Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir. Value for money wise, this is an Australian Pinot Noir star.
94 points
"Spicy, perfumed, complex. It has plenty of structure, juicy cherry flavour, bright but balanced acidity, and excellent length. A short note for an impressive wine. What else do you need to know? Oh, yes, it drinks a charm."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
2023 Two Tonne Tasmania TMV Pinot Noir
The TMV Pinot Noir is a composite blend of all the Tamar Valley Pinot Noir sites that are farmed by Ricky Evans.
It's a glimpse at the vintage for the Tamar Valley sub-region. This is not your average 'entry level' Pinot Noir, this is a beautifully crafted, elegant representation of Pinot Noir from the north of the island.
It's a cracking wine with immaculate fruit and a savoury backbone - a great representation of the quality being produced by a new wave of Tasmanian winemaking rock stars.
Stocks are limited on this release, so don't hesitate.
2024 Dr Edge Pinot Rain Pinot Noir
Bright, gluggable Pinot Noir from the master with the medical license (not really!), Dr Edge.
With Tassie Pinot prices soaring, we thank Peter Dredge for creating a "vin de soif" style Pinot Noir that brings all the goodness of Tasmanian vineyards without the hefty price tag.
Deliciously red-fruited and easygoing, it's a wine that's ready to go whenever you are. Pop it in the fridge for a minute before serving if you want, drink it in the Purple Rain with your favourite frog or Prince.
Another glass of Pinot Noir goodness from our favourite Tassie Doctor.
2024 William Downie Cathedral Pinot Noir
William Downie is a bonafide star of the Gippsland wine movement, having garnered his expertise from Burgundy and Australian icons like Bass Phillips and De Bortoli.
The Cathedral is his best value offering, which marries fruit from Upper Goulburn, King Valley, Alpine Valleys, and Mornington Peninsula. The 2024 vintage was shaped by a challenging growing season, with cool, wet conditions early on, followed by a warm, dry finish, resulting in a wine that bursts with bright notes of raspberry, pomegranate, and red currant, underscored by hints of cherry pit and fragrant rose petals.
Bottled unfiltered and unfined, this is Pinot Noir at its most authentic—juicy, earthy, and irresistibly engaging, reflective of Downie’s commitment to hands-off winemaking.
An absolute bargain, this sits somewhere between glou-glou and serious sipper.
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