The fruit comes from 7 plots mostly on the lower slopes and up to 39 years old. Fine vibrant mid purple, sturdy too, but this time the fruit comes across a little fresher. Once again there is some fairly powerful structure here in dark raspberry mode, just a little bit savoury to finish, but notably longer than the Bourgogne. Tasted: November 2021.

89-91 points. 

Bay of Fires Pinot Noir 2022

Prior to 2024, we’ve never had a Tasmanian Pinot in our Best In Show selection. This year we have two. Was it because 2022 was a sensational vintage? Not exactly – the east coast of the island suffered from a spectacularly cool, wet season; elsewhere on the island, though, conditions did indeed vary from good to outstanding. The first wine in our pair is a pan-Tasmanian blend with source fruit from several regions. It is a translucent dark red in colour, with warm, settled aromas of plum, cherry and raspberry just teased towards sweetness with subtle oak. It is warm, soft and mouthfilling, built on the same core of subtly mingled fruits with muted, natural acidity and fine tannins, the combination giving an almost silky charm to the wine. This considered, restrained winemaking lays the groundwork for a Pinot which is hugely easy to drink yet at the same time deeply satisfying and highly amenable – a Pinot to sip on its own, to chill with fish or to serve at a cool room temperature for white meats and salads.

Decanter World Wine Awards - 97 points and Top 50 Wines of 2024

Bay of Fires Pinot Noir 2022

Lovely colour, bright, youthful and lively. Complex aromas of bramble, cherry, raspberry, spice, clovey oak and a lifted, whole-bunchy edge. There's a core of wildness: red berries, spice and bushy, briary characters driving the flavours, along with sap and earth. The tannins have appealing presence and the acidity provides cut and snap. A lovely pinot noir. Drink 2024-2034.

Bay of Fires Pinot Noir 2022

The Derwent and Coal River valleys provide the fruit source for this year's release, which shows bright, lively wild strawberry, raspberry and dark cherry fruit tones with hints of exotic spice, sous bois, shiitake broth, roasting game and earth. Impressive fruit intensity on the palate, plenty of minerally drive and gentle chalky tannins that show more muscle as the wine fades away, pure of fruit and long. Drink by 2034.

Dave Brookes

DOMAINE HENRI MAGNIEN, Gevrey-Chambertin 2020

The fruit comes from 7 plots mostly on the lower slopes and up to 39 years old. Fine vibrant mid purple, sturdy too, but this time the fruit comes across a little fresher. Once again there is some fairly powerful structure here in dark raspberry mode, just a little bit savoury to finish, but notably longer than the Bourgogne. Tasted: November 2021.