Wines
Pinot Noir Back Vintages
2002 Pinot Noir
The recently released 2002 Pinot is a more robust wine than the 2001 having strong cherry and plum flavours and aroma, with a mouth filling middle palate. The wine still retains the elegance of Leabrook Estate wines and will develop into a complex classic wine.
Reviews
"Some raspberries and hints of licorice on the nose. A good, solid, mature fruit palate." *** Three Stars.
Winestate May/June 2004
"Savoury, spicy gamey, foresty aromas and flavours: fine tannins and good length." Rating 88 **** Four Stars.
Halliday's 2005 Wine Campanion.
2001 Pinot Noir
Leabrook Estate Pinot Noir is sourced from the estate's own vineyards that are based on the French close planted low yield theories. This enables intense fruit flavours to be achieved without relying on over ripe alcoholic fruit characters, retaining excellent acid balance, elegance gained from optimum picked Pinot Noir, and a long complex finish on the palate.
Reviews
"The palate is impressive with mouth filling flavours of cherry, stalk and liquorice. Excellent length and depth. Fine grained tannins with long aftertaste of cherry and spice." **** Four Stars, Rating 91/100
Nick's Merchant Reviews October 2002
2000 Pinot Noir
The 2000 vintage was a relatively low yield year and the Leabrook Estate Pinot Noir with its already low yield pruned vines had even less quantities than would normally be expected. The consequent quality enhancement is evident in the wine. It has balance and primary fruit flavours with an underlying structure. The palate combines raspberry, plums and a hint of truffles. The quality acid and firm tannins combine together to produce structure and the promise of longevity and future complexity.
The wine has yet to be labeled and can be purchased at the price of the 1999 on a future basis to be delivered in January. As with the '99, it too will carry the 'Reserve' label.
1999 Pinot Noir
A more elegant wine with uplifted fruit with hints of raspberry and blackberries. As with the 1998 it benefits with a degree of aeration on opening to produce silky, delicate, but quality flavours of a good Pinot. The wine scored midway between the Knappstein (5O) and Penfolds Pinot's at the recent Adelaide Hills Wine Show. The palate lingers and will gain even more character as it ages. This is the first wine that I have judged worthy of the 'Reserve' label for Leabrook Estate.
Reviews
Winestate
Leabrook Estate Reserve Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 1999 ***1/2
(Judged equal top Pinot Noir from the Adelaide Hills)
1998 Pinot Noir
This wine was produced from relatively young vines and shows the brashness of youth. It is an up front wine with full flavours of plums, truffles, blackcurrants, firm tannins and sweet alcohol and oak flavours. It is imperative that this wine is well aerated on opening. The transformation is dramatic, from a bucket full of plums to one of flowers and perfumes. It will be interesting to watch this wine develop. Good drinking now, it would be good to keep a bottle to see how this brash youth develops.
Colin's Technical Notes on Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir needs a very cool climate and the best wines come from marginal areas. more »