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Shaw and Smith Pinot Noir 2019

Tasting Notes

Shaw and Smith, located in the cooler Adelaide Hills of South Australia, is making some of that countries most compelling wines, and are recognized as a Halliday 5 Star winery. Michael Hill Smith, a Master of Wine, and winemaker cousin Martin Shaw, started their venture in 1989, initially as a virtual operation, but over time purchased their own vineyards, now totaling 55 hectares, as well as building their own state of the art winery in 2000. These vineyards now have the vine age to give the wines the gravitas and impeccable quality that sets them apart from so many other producers in the region and the entire country.

The just released 2019 Shaw and Smith Pinot Noir, sourced from their two vineyards located in Balhannah and Lenswood, planted in 1999 and 2000, shows what the cousins and their formidable team have produced in this beautiful Pinot Noir. Blessed with noted depth of flavor and fruit concentration in the dark cherry flavor spectrum, there’s a touch of spice and a savory edge with an engaging, concentrated textural feel that speaks of the low yielding vintage. It’s lovely stuff and should show well over the next 4-5 years quite easily. Extremely limited.

Winery: Shaw and Smith
Varietal: Pinot Noir
SKU: SHAPIN2019 Categories: ,
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Shaw Smith Pinot Noir 2019

$31.99

Out of stock

Awards/Reviews

97 pts Decanter

The type of taut, edgy Pinot Noir the Adelaide Hills has struggled to capture, despite the region being heavily planted to the variety. This is a model of winemaking restraint, allowing the vineyard to shine, with fleshy cherry and a hint of tart mandarin providing comfort, though its firm acidity and stalky grip ensures good structure and svelte line.

Winemaker Notes

Older vines, the Lenswood Vineyard, sorting tables, small batch open fermenters, or just more insight in the capricious nature of Pinot Noir. Whatever the reason, we think our Shaw + Smith Pinot Noir continues to get better and better. Our first release was in 2007.

Shaw + Smith own two vineyards in the Adelaide Hills, at Balhannah and Lenswood, totalling 55 hectares. The vineyards are planted to varieties that perform particularly well
in the region, namely Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz.

The 2019 growing season was one that challenged even the most experienced and well equipped vignerons. Those that made the most of it produced small crops of very clean fruit with wonderful flavor and intensity. Natural acidity is a feature in all of the wines despite the warm dry summer.

Style: Delicate, fragrant, light to medium bodied but with deceptive power, silky tannins and medium term ageing potential.

The 2019 vintage has depth of flavour and concentration, with darker fruit, spice and a savoury edge. A structured and textural wine from a low yielding year.

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