The Vintage: 2016 got off to a fast start with a warm, dry spring and never slowed down despite mild conditions during ripening. We harvested quickly and early to capture freshness and vitality in the 2016 wines.

Winemaking: The Sticks Pinot Noir is made from fruit grown in the Dixon’s Creek, Yarra Glen and Coldstream sub-regions of the Yarra Valley which provide rich fruit and generous body, and vineyards in Gladysdale, a cool area which bring precision and a finer body to the wine. Each vineyard is made and matured separately to allow them to express themselves fully. A variety of winemaking techniques are employed from open fermenters and high temperatures to give complexity, depth and power, and cooler ferments in closed fermenters to maintain freshness ad fruitiness. After approximately 10 months maturation in barrels and tank, the wine is blended, lightly filtered and bottled. We seek purity, expressive fruit and subtle complexity in the Sticks Pinot Noir.

Colour: Vibrant red.

Aroma: An explosion of crushed berries, raspberry coulis, rhubarb and spiced plum, with threads of sweet earth and forest-floor complexity running through it.

Palate: Medium bodied, elegant and smooth, with ample fine grained tannin and loads of sweet berry fruit.

Cellaring: Medium term cellaring for 4-6 years.

Food Match: A lovely match with mushroom influenced risottos and pastas, pink spring lamb and duck inspired meals.

Alc/vol: 13.7%