2018 Shaw + Smith Lenswood Vineyard Pinot Noir

Bob Campbell, The Real Review - October 2020 

Classy, youthful pinot noir that’s long and linear with tightly-woven cherry, berry, spice and broken stem flavours, together with spicy oak characters. This is a complex and very stylish wine in the making. 95 Points. 

Huon Hooke, The Real Review - October 2020

Good colour: medium to full red tinged with purple. The bouquet is very spicy in a whole-bunchy way, and is complex and charming. Background chocolate. The palate likewise: it’s full and rich, round and concentrated, with real density and persistence. It copes well with a high whole-bunch component. A smart pinot with a future. 95 Points.

Angus Hughson, Winepilot.com - September 2020 

Again from Lenswood and more open knit than usual, the wine is slightly cloudy thanks to a lack of filtering but nothing to worry about there. It is very interesting and detailed expression of the Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir that boasts exceptional complexity delivering powerful and rich black cherry, violet, and peppery aromas with a savoury, meaty edge and well matched oak. It is then dry, supple and silky – layers of bacon fat and bark fruits driving a savoury Adelaide Hills style – finishing with good length. It is approachable and a more early drinking style than other recent vintages under this label. 94 Points. 

David Sly, Decanter - August 2020 

An exciting lean and lively nose signals this is the type of taut, edgy Pinot Noir that 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 speak, with fleshy cherry and hint of tart mandarin providing a comforting tone, but its firm acidity and ripe, stalky grip ensuring good discipline is maintained in the shape and structure of a svelte flavour profile. 97 Points.

Ned Goodwin MW, 2021 Halliday Wine Companion - August 2020

From a vineyard planted in ’99 at an altitude of 500m, pocked with loam over clay and a shale substrata. This is a richly flavoured pinot, belying the chiffonesque tannins and ethereal glide across the palate. Think root spice, generous red fruit references and forest floor to dill accents. Long punchy with a carapace of gentle – but nicely pliant – tannins guiding it all long. 95 Points.

Nick Stock, Jamessuckling.com - July 2020 

There’s plenty of oak influence here, shrouding the red plums and red cherries in savory, dried-wood and spice tones. Some herbal notes, leaves and florals peek through. The palate has beautifully smooth, long style with fine, polished tannins and a core of darker-cherry flavor. Long and composed. Drink now. 94 points.

Huon Hooke, The Real Review - October 2019 

Medium-full red-purple colour, the bouquet revealing attractive fresh cherry fruit and lots of spice. It's clean and ripe and sweet fruited. Stem influence is not too obvious. There's an abundance of tannins, which will give the wine drive and longevity. 95 Points.

Bob Campbell, The Real Review - October 2020 

Classy, youthful pinot noir that’s long and linear with tightly-woven cherry, berry, spice and broken stem flavours, together with spicy oak characters. This is a complex and very stylish wine in the making. 95 Points. 

Huon Hooke, The Real Review - October 2020

Good colour: medium to full red tinged with purple. The bouquet is very spicy in a whole-bunchy way, and is complex and charming. Background chocolate. The palate likewise: it’s full and rich, round and concentrated, with real density and persistence. It copes well with a high whole-bunch component. A smart pinot with a future. 95 Points.

Angus Hughson, Winepilot.com - September 2020 

Again from Lenswood and more open knit than usual, the wine is slightly cloudy thanks to a lack of filtering but nothing to worry about there. It is very interesting and detailed expression of the Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir that boasts exceptional complexity delivering powerful and rich black cherry, violet, and peppery aromas with a savoury, meaty edge and well matched oak. It is then dry, supple and silky – layers of bacon fat and bark fruits driving a savoury Adelaide Hills style – finishing with good length. It is approachable and a more early drinking style than other recent vintages under this label. 94 Points. 

David Sly, Decanter - August 2020 

An exciting lean and lively nose signals this is the type of taut, edgy Pinot Noir that 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 speak, with fleshy cherry and hint of tart mandarin providing a comforting tone, but its firm acidity and ripe, stalky grip ensuring good discipline is maintained in the shape and structure of a svelte flavour profile. 97 Points.

Ned Goodwin MW, 2021 Halliday Wine Companion - August 2020

From a vineyard planted in ’99 at an altitude of 500m, pocked with loam over clay and a shale substrata. This is a richly flavoured pinot, belying the chiffonesque tannins and ethereal glide across the palate. Think root spice, generous red fruit references and forest floor to dill accents. Long punchy with a carapace of gentle – but nicely pliant – tannins guiding it all long. 95 Points.

Nick Stock, Jamessuckling.com - July 2020 

There’s plenty of oak influence here, shrouding the red plums and red cherries in savory, dried-wood and spice tones. Some herbal notes, leaves and florals peek through. The palate has beautifully smooth, long style with fine, polished tannins and a core of darker-cherry flavor. Long and composed. Drink now. 94 points.

Huon Hooke, The Real Review - October 2019 

Medium-full red-purple colour, the bouquet revealing attractive fresh cherry fruit and lots of spice. It's clean and ripe and sweet fruited. Stem influence is not too obvious. There's an abundance of tannins, which will give the wine drive and longevity. 95 Points.