Brown Magpie Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012
Style: Red Wine
Closure: Screwcap
Brown Magpie Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012
Camberwell
Burke Road
Camberwell VIC 3124
Australia
Producer: Brown Magpie
Country: Australia
Region: Geelong
Vintage: 2012
Critic Score: 95
Alcohol: 13.0%
Size: 750 ml
Drink by: Now
Brown Magpie is situated in Modewarre, near Geelong, which is in the hinterland of the Surf Coast and the Great Ocean Road. The vineyard was planted in 2001 and 2002 and is predominantly pinot noir (4ha), pinot gris (2.4ha) and shiraz (2.4ha).
"The soft but insistent acidity gives this pinot a special place, throwing the spotlight on the freshness of its cherry/plum/strawberry fruit flavours." James Halliday
Expert reviews
"'Custom made' French oak seems a big call; very good colour, the soft but insistent acidity gives this pinot a special place, throwing the spotlight on the freshness of its cherry/plum/strawberry fruit flavours. Drink by 2018." James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion - 95 points
"Deepish red/purple colour. The bouquet shows leather, chaff and fresh earth, with a suggestion of the horse's stable. In the mouth, it's rich and seductively fruit-sweet, smooth and supple with ample tannins, but they're ripe and soft tannins in fine balance with the other components. Lots of dried herb and hay-loft nuances, while the palate is contrastingly full of charming sweet fruit. Drink: 2014-2019." Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 92 points
About the winery
Shane and Loretta Breheny's 20ha property is situated in Modewarre, near Geelong. The property has nine hectares of grapevines situated predominantly on a gentle, north-facing slope, with cypress trees on the western and southern borders providing protection against the wind. The vines were planted in 2001 and 2002 and are predominantly pinot noir (4ha), pinot gris (2.4ha) and shiraz (2.4ha). There are also some small patches of Chardonnay and Sauvignon (0.1ha each). Viticulture is Loretta's love; winemaking is Shane's. The Brown Magpie name comes from the rare brown and white magpies that live on the site.
The maritime-influenced cool climate region where the Brown Magpie vineyard is located has influenced the decisions on grapevine variety selection. The soils and soil structure are similar to other premium grape growing regions around the world. Under a thin layer of sandy loam there are layers of different types of clay, eventually leading to estuary marl, then limestone.
Victoria
Victoria is home to more than 800 wineries across 21 wine regions. The regions are Alpine Valley, Beechworth, Bendigo, Geelong, Gippsland, Glenrowan, Goulburn Valley, Grampians, Heathcote, Henty, King Valley, Macedon Ranges, Mornington Peninsula, Murray Darling, Pyrenees, Rutherglen, Strathbogie Ranges, Sunbury, Swan Hill, Upper Goulburn and Yarra Valley.
Victoria's first vines were planted at Yering in the Yarra Valley in 1838. By 1868 over 3,000 acres had been planted in Victoria, establishing Victoria as the premier wine State of the day. Today, the original vineyards planted at Best's Wines are among the oldest and rarest pre-phylloxera plantings in the world.
Victoria's climate varies from hot and dry in the north to cool in the south and each wine region specialises in different varietals. For example, Rutherglen in the north is famous for its opulent Muscats and Topaque and bold reds, while the many cooler climate regions near Melbourne produce world class Chardonnay and pinot Noir. Victoria is truly a wine lover's playground.