Domaine Lucci and Anton van Klopper seem to have a profound affect on me. I'd never heard of either until about early November 2010, then in one of those strange moments of synchronicity, I came across Mr Klopper, or the fruits of his labours about four times in as many days.
I have the
Qwoff Boys to thank for at least two of these introductions. Firstly by way of his introduction in Max Allen's "
The Future Makers" and then also by virtue of their Road to Vino Episode "
Lunch With Lucy". Watching this video of Andre and Justin tasting with Anton a) made me sickingly jealous and b) made me have to sit down and stop what I was doing otherwise I would risk fainting. This was one of those head-spinny moments where I was just enthralled at the approach, or some may say lack of, to winemaking this guy had. I was simply in a daze. I had to get me some of those wines!
Around the same time, the
Winefront, reviewed two wines from the stable. If I wasn't hooked before, I was now.
This is only the second wine that I have tried from the hands of Anton van Klopper. Jumping to conclusions quickly, I consider that these are very challenging wines, in the sense that they have challenged me as a consumer. The first of their wines I tried was a Pinot Gris. It was red. The individual who allowed me to sample this wine asked of me what my thoughts were when I was thinking of Pinot Gris. Red most certainly was not one of them. Challenging I say.
This wine is clearly a Pinot Noir. It smells of varietal cherries and raspberries. But take a look at it, and its not your typical light, shiny, nigh transparent, red Pinot Noir. There's almost a brown tinge to it. Not the brickish tinge of an aged Pinot, this is something altogether more earthen. Then I start to think, its a 2010 - is this how young Pinot's are? I have no other frame of reference. I'll have to take it as I see it.
In the mouth, it's warm, some earthiness, tight - again not at all like Pinot's I have tasted before - which admittedly is pretty much exclusively new world.
The finish has spice in the roof of the mouth and this leads through to the back palate; this wine had me hooked. It is good shit, if I may be as vulgar as to say.
Although the bottle was finished, I carried on drinking it mentally. The slight earthiness, the raspberry and cherry could have me thinking it was a Grenache. No, its definitely Pinot Noir. Even now I am thinking about it.
Whichever way you approach it, this is seriously good booze. If you want a Pinot Noir to drink, yes this ticks all the right boxes. If you want a Pinot Noir that will engage you, maybe make you think, look at what's in the glass repeatedly, then this is your man.
Source: Retail
Price: $35
Closure: Diam with Wax Seal
Website: http://www.lucymargauxvineyards.com/
Retailer: Spiros Toowong
