2016 Shadowfax Macedon Pinot Noir

Shadowfax

Australia / Werribee / Shadowfax

Fruit from the Midhill, Macedon and Big Shed vineyards. A deliberate winding back on the whole bunch from 2015 – this is about 20%. Fairly deep garnet in colour and ripe fruited on the nose – macerated cherry, raspberry almost into blackberry territory, with cherry blossom floral notes, earthy spices and biscuity oak. The fruit is plush and dense on the palate, with notably high levels of fresh grape tannins adding substance and, with the juicy acidity, keeping its shape and presence through the fresh, cocoa-dusted finish. – Ed Merrison, CellarHand

February, 2018

Campbell Mattinson

The Wine Front

92+ points

It’s taken time, as all good things do, but Shadowfax pinot noir is in a very good place now. If I was served this at any restaurant or bar at any time I’d be happy. It’s not a spectacular wine but it’s pinot noir to its core. Mulch, forest berries, peppercorns, sweet spices. Summer and autumn in one, though with a leaning towards the latter. Cool acidity, like an evening rolling in. A silken quality to the mid-palate but a grainy, tea-leaf quality to the tannin. More please.

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About Shadowfax

Shadowfax has taken tremendous strides in recent times, with the team refining the range and proving their prowess with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Their single-vineyard Chardonnays have taken out Best Chardonnay at the Macedon Ranges Wine Exhibition no fewer than five times. Especially noteworthy have been the Little Hampton Vineyard in Macedon's high-altitude plantings of Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, in the chilliest region of Australia’s mainland. These are the vibrant future of Australia’s cool-climate wine scene. The counterpoint to this is the dynamic Minnow project, based around the Werribee vineyard’s southern French varieties. This is the source of bright, spicy, textured rosé and reds, with the micro-make Mondeuse immediately becoming a delicious cult hit. With long-serving vineyard manager and assistant winemaker Alister Timms taking the helm in October 2017, these are hugely exciting times for Shadowfax.

About

Shortly after completing this second degree, Alister started working at Shadowfax as Assistant Winemaker, a position he held for three years before moving back home to run his family’s winery, Kilgour Estate. In 2008, Alister returned to Shadowfax to manage the winery’s various vineyards and establish the Little Hampton property in the Macedon Ranges, whilst working as Assistant Winemaker to Matt Harrop. When Matt decided to leave Shadowfax in October 2017, after almost 20 years as winemaker, Alister was the obvious choice as his replacement. “I look forward to building on the foundation that we’ve created over the years and seeing our vineyards reach their full potential, and to follow that through in the winery.”