Flagship Pinot Noir here for Crittenden. Translation as ‘Cry of the Heart.’ Sourced from the Crittenden’s home block at 40+years of age and only made in exceptional years in small quantities. Fruit fermented in 500L oak barrels converted to open fermenters by being stored on their end with the top heads removed. Each fermenter had a portion of whole bunches (ranging in 20% to 70%). Maturation in new and young seasoned ‘tight grain, light toast’ French oak barriques for 11 months before blending, where the final result was ~45% whole bunch in the ferment. Winemaker is next generation Rollo Crittenden. Heavy packaging and bottled under diam.

Crittenden Estate, Cri de Couer, Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula, 2021

Medium garnet hue. Deep and complex. Rose petals and rose water, woody stalky spice, lifted with a ‘creaming soda’ lilt under kirsch, cherry halves, smoked ham hock, watermelon sorbet, navel orange skin, autumn leaves, thyme and ‘scorched raisins.’ Subtle, yet powerful. Retains structure with an ethereal quality. Focused fruit, ripe tannins with a little tacky chew coming from the whole bunch. Plenty of glide and drive, worthy of such a release.

RRP: $95
Alc: 13%
Rating:  95/100

Wine sample courtesy of Crittenden Wines