It’s fair to say that Dave Bowley and the team at Vinteloper have had a tough 14 months. After the devastating Cudlee Creek fire in the Adelaide Hills ripped through Dave’s family’s house and the newly acquired Vinteloper home vineyards…well….COVID19 struck the hospitality industry.  However, having seen Dave’s mental and physical determination to complete Ironman level triathlons, he and the team are rebuilding and seeing new growth in the vines. They’re getting fruit in from other sources for vintage 2021 and will continue to rise from the ashes. The artwork for the Vinteloper labels has been created by Dave’s talented other half, @shazhong

Vinteloper, PN/18, Pinot Noir, Adelaide Hills, 2018

I pulled this out of my home cellar. Red fruits of light strawberry, drying cherry and rich cherry flesh with velvety fresh thyme leaves and the right level hints of sweet oak. There’s a wonderful tension yet evenness to this lightly smoky, crunchy, wound up, buzzy wine that leaves hints of light bacon meatiness.

RRP: $35 (current release 2019)
Alc: 13.5%
Rating: 18.25/20 (93/100)

Wine self purchased from Vinteloper