The fruit comes from the four rows adjacent to Andrie and Mark’s house. Each vintage, barrels from all plots are selected and tasted blindly in the assemblage process. Interestingly, the Monopole Pinot Noir always derives from those four rows of clone D5V12. This parcel has the potential to produce outstanding quality fruit when given the right amount of attention throughout the seasons.
The grapes were destemmed (10% whole bunch), then wild fermented. The juice was left on skins for 2 weeks after the first fermentation under a layer of argon. The wine was then slowly aged for 20 months in old French oak barrels (10% new).
This cuvée of ‘Monopole’ shows a striking divergence in character from the ‘White Label’. Its pseudo-French naming hints at parallels to the great wines of Burgundy, and while it remains firmly rooted in the Adelaide Hills, it carries overtones reminiscent of that revered region. This is a hauntingly beautiful Pinot Noir—reserved in its youth, yet already revealing dark cherry fruits, licorice root, and violets. Subtle secondary notes of game meat, mushroom, and peaty undergrowth add to its mystique and hint at long-term potential. The palate is defined by soaring acidity, fine tannins, and a deeply structured frame. Built to age, and compelling in its expression. - Mark & Andrie Whisson, Winemakers.