- Winery: Hungerford Hill
- Wine Region: Tumbarumba, New South Wales
- Variety: Pinot Noir
- Vintage: 2022
- Price: $50
- Find it: From the winery direct
- Alcohol content: 13.5%
- You’ll like this if: You like juicy Pinot
- Body: Medium
- Mouthfeel: Juicy
- Taste: Juicy, vibrant, smooth
- Flavours: Raspberries, strawberry, cherry
- Enjoy it with: A good meal
- Food pairings: Risotto, roast chicken, pulled pork
Wine review: Hungerford Hill The Underground Project Pinot Noir
Recently I visited the Tumbarumba wine region for the first time and had an incredible time exploring the region and trying the wines. The region is well known for its Chardonnay and Sparkling Wine, but we also tried some cracking Pinot Noir. While I was there I also met the Senior Winemaker and General Manager of Hungerford Hill – Bryan Currie who took us through an awesome Pinot benchmarking. After the trip, he sent me a couple of the Hungerford Hill Tumbarumba wines to try, and I wanted to share the Hungerford Hill The Underground Project Pinot Noir with you all. This wine is from the Underground Project range which is where their winemakers can stretch their palates and wine making skills in small batch wines.
The Hungerford Hill The Underground Project Pinot Noir is made with carbonic fermentation and whole berry Pinot Noir. This technique is common in Beaujolais, and I can’t say I have ever had a Pinot made with this method (or at least not one that has said it on the label). So I was very excited to give this one a go. Carbonic Maceration is applied primarily to light-medium bodied red wines to soften tannins and make them fruitier. Without getting too technical, this technique is where fermentation occurs from the inside out by filling a sealed vessel with carbon dioxide and adding whole bunches of grapes in to ferment.
The Hungerford Hill The Underground Project Pinot Noir is a seriously delicious, juicy Pinot packed full of flavour. The aromas are lifted with notes of cherry, strawberry and raspberry and a hint of confectionary. This was balanced nicely with a hint of earthiness. On the palate, this wine really sings with vibrant and juicy red fruit alongside nice dark savoury notes. It’s beautifully balanced, offering lovely smoothness and a nice long finish. This Pinot is a great option for pairing with food, and an absolute taste sensation. I love that the wine really showcases the purity of Tumbarumba fruit, and the skill of the winemaking all wrapped up in one tasty wine.
About Hungerford Hill
Hungerford Hill has had a long and complex history, but its most recent chapter begun in December 2016 when it was purchased by Sam Arnaout. The winery is located in the Hunter Valley, and whilst their focus is showcasing Hunter Valley wines, they also use fruit from around New South Wales to create beautiful award winning wines.
Bryan Currie has been at the winemaking helm for over six years, starting his winemaking journey many years ago as a cellar hand with McWilliams. Since then he has worked across the industry and was nominated as Winemaker of the Year in 2012. His vision is to ensure that Hungerford Hill continues to be recognised as the finest, premium quality wine producer.
You can find out more about this wine at the Hungerford Hill website.
Note: This wine was sent as a sample. I was under no obligation to post about it.