Alastair McLeod is a celebrity chef, with an esteemed resumé and is chef at Bretts Wharf and Tank restaurant in Brisbane. Alastair has lent his name to a local, well for me anyway, 2010 pinot noir produced by Yabby Lake in the Mornington Peninsula outside of Melbourne. A small sign, but another sign nonetheless, that the Mornington Peninsula wine region really has taken off in the last 30 or so years.
This is quite a serious wine, or perhaps a series wine if the rampant spellchecker were to have its way. The nose shows graphite, red natural and glazed cherries and char aromas, in a medium intensity expression, sprinkled with some cedar wood and clove. It is coiled and serious, with more than a touch of struck match. The palate is also tightly coiled and layered with evident acidity, medium, perhaps a bit longer, length, and pretty red cherry and red currant notes. It is quite strong in flavour and impression reminding me of a Central Otago pinot noir, but softened with time in the glass. This is a very good pinot noir that deserves a few years in the cellar to loosen up, but is drinking well now. 88 points (very good)
Abv: 14%
Price: $37
Source: sample
Vendors: Wine Selectors
Tasted: May 2012
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