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Mike Press Adelaide Hills Single Vineyard Pinot Noir

Mike Press is legendary for shiraz and cabernet, and now, too, for pinot noir. I have never before awarded a $15 pinot a gold medal score, but here you have it. This is not only my favourite Mike Press Pinot yet, it’s a solid contender for best sub-$15 wine of the year. And I’ve never said that of pinot. Ever. It’s also half the price of its nearest rivals, and it will fly, so be quick. Only 1,000 cases were made and most sold overnight to the trade. This is definitively pinot noir, unquestionably high altitude Adelaide Hills and clearly underpriced. Mike Press has worked like a demon on his pinot vines, and it shows. He prunes them hard, shoot thins and then bunch thins several times – all of which have the compounding effect of reducing yields – to build intensity and flavour. Who else can afford to go to such lengths for a $15 pinot? No one I know, anywhere in the world. Pretty aromas of strawberry, red cherry, beetroot and rose petal herald an impeccably pure palate of alluring red fruits, even a glimmer of pepper. It has persistence, integrity, silky structure, refreshingly poised acidity and eminent appeal. This is the ultimate wine to entice punters and aficionados alike. $14 at WineStar.