De Bortoli in the Yarra Valley has set its sights on producing some of the regions most premium, cool-climate pinot noir. From De Bortoli Wines' extensive portfolio, here are a few select premium pinot noirs: The Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir, the Lusatia Pinot Noir, the Riorret The Abbey Pinot Noir, and the Riorret Lusatia Park Pinot Noir.
De Bortoli's chief winemaker Steve Webber says one of the reasons he loves pinot noir is because its essences reflects its terroir. "Particularly when grown on exceptional sites, it creates wines of compelling depth and character – a great pinot noir is generally produced from a great site."
When it comes to working with the temperamental grape, Steve says the challenging part is in the vineyard. "...it would be the careful cultivation, clonal selection and canopy management in the vineyard, while also paying meticulous attention to detail throughout the winemaking process. The attention to detail optimises the wine’s colour and flavour and preserves the distinct characteristics of the vineyard site and the growing season."
So what's next for De Bortoli? Steve says the winery is turning its attention to producing more top-end sparkling wine under the Este label, which produces "serious, edgy premium sparkling wine", and of course, De Bortoli's Yarra Valley Sparkling Pinot Noir.
De Bortoli pinot noir to try
2020 De Bortoli The Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir
Beautifully perfumed and ethereal with blue fruits, sandalwood and violets. Bright vibrant flavours, supple, seamless and with lovely tension. Medium weight, perfumed, textural.The Estate Vineyard produces elegant wines of exceptional quality that embody a true sense of place. The team heroes the estate's mature vines through minimal intervention and thoughtful winemaking.
Suggested food pairing: Duck-breast ragu with soft polenta.
RRP $24.95 | Drink to 2028 | Shop this wine
2018 De Bortoli Lusatia Pinot Noir
Medium red, beautifully aromatic, ethereal and gorgeous red currant flavours. Supple perfumed aromas, gentle texture, layers of red and dark fruits, silky tannins.The Lusatia Pinot Noir is grown at De Bortoli's Lusatia Park Vineyard at Woori Yallock in the Upper Yarra Valley. The vines at Lusatia Park were first planted in 1985, making them the oldest in the vineyard.
Suggested food pairing: Slow-cooked lamb ragu pappardelle pasta.
RRP $99.95 | Drink to 2033 | Shop this wine
2020 De Bortoli Riorret The Abbey Pinot Noir
Bright medium red, the 2020 is beautifully perfumed and ethereal, blue fruits, cranberry, sandalwood and violets. The flavours are vibrant, supple, seamless and with lovely tension.Riorret The Abbey comes from one of the Yarra Valley’s premium sites – Tarrawarra. The vineyard is a north facing vineyard and a slightly warmer site, it produces brooding, dark-fruited pinot noir with power and charm. The terroir and vineyard producers delicate and complex pinot noir wines.
Suggested food pairing: Gamey meats to compliment the spice and tannins.
RRP $44.95 | Drink to 2029 | Shop this wine
2019 De Bortoli Riorret Lusatia Park Pinot Noir
Bright, medium red with exotic dark fruits, spice and flowers. The red volcanic soils of the Upper Yarra Valley give the wine their own unique characteristics.Like the Lusatia Pinot Noir, the Riorret Lusatia Park Pinot Noir comes from the vineyard of its namesake. The north-facing vineyard is owned by the De Bortoli family. Its vines were close planted on the deep red basalt soils in 1985. The pinot noir wines produced are fine, aromatic and charming.
Suggested food pairing: Crispy roast duck.
RRP $44.95 | Drink to 2029 | Shop this wine
For more information or to shop the De Bortoli pinot noir range visit shop.debortoli.com.au.
