Tapanappa Definitus Foggy Hill Pinot Noir 2018
Tapanappa Definitus Foggy Hill Pinot Noir 2018
96 points - Ned Goodwin. The Definitus is a special bottling from The Foggy Hill Vineyard. Foggy Hill is typical of the spectacular, steep, cool climate sites that have helped revolutionise Australian fine wine in recent years. Laying at 350m above sea level on the ancient soils of the Fleurieu Peninsula and cooled by the waters of Victor Harbor and Cape Jervis, it is the perfect spot for producing world-class Pinot Noir. Grapes are hand-harvested with each clone being brought in separately. Chilling and a cold, pre-fermentation soak helps to protect the aromas and fix the colour, before the 14-day fermentation commences. When ready, the wines are placed into 225-litre French oak barrels – a third of which are new – for 9-10 months. It is only after cask ageing that the blending commences. It is this exacting attention to detail that has led the likes of the Halliday Wine Companion to comment, ‘An excellent wine on our hands here’. If you think you know Australian Pinot Noir, it’s time to drink again.
Members Price
Vivino Rating: 4.4 (Sept 2024)
Wine Press Ratings
96 points - Ned Goodwin (2018)
"An elite microcosm of the Foggy Hill site. The best strip, so to speak. I prefer this to the ’17. More integrated, compact, layered and detailed. The tension, curtailing the ripe and inherently sweet fruit. The oak, tannic extract and judicious whole bunch amalgamating as a finely tuned structural skein, corralling the billowing sweet berry fruit, root spice and undergrowth scents. The finish long and generous, yet nothing overt. This is mid-weighted and far from shy, but there is plenty in store embedded in the structural timbre."
91 points - Robert Parker Wine Advocate (2018)
"The 2018 Foggy Hill Vineyard “Definitus” Pinot Noir is a blend of Clones 115 and 777 from a strip of vines over the site’s shallowest soils. Winemaking is similar to the rest of the vineyard’s production, and maturation takes place in 30% new French oak, with the balance of the wood being one and two years old. Compared to the regular bottling, it ratchets up the intensity, but it does so at the expense of some of the more delicate floral nuances. Herbal notes impart welcome complexity to the cherry-scented fruit, buttressed by fine, cedary oak. Medium-bodied, it’s slightly bigger and more generous than the regular bottling, with almost velvety tannins on the finish. I suspect it will age well for at least a decade."
Taste
The 2018 Definitus Pinot Noir impresses from the off. Mid-cherry red with a hint of tawny at the rim, the bouquet offers an intriguing mix of red cherries, alpine strawberries, cream, mushrooms and Chinese 5 spice. The medium-bodied palate is seamlessly smooth, with a wide array of black and red berry fruits – most notably strawberries and cherries – with touches of blackberries and raspberries adding intensity. Secondary tones of earthy spices, liquorice, and mushrooms add further interest, as does the long finish which brings together these diverse elements into a classic Pinot peacock’s tail. Wonderful now with fine red meats, game, poultry or mature cheeses, it will continue to develop for some years to come.
About the Producer
Tapanappa is the latest wine venture by the legendary Petaluma founder, Brian Croser. Founded in 2002 with the support of Champagne Bollinger and the Cazes family of Chateau Lynch Bages fame, Tapanappa produces an extensive range of superb wines in several sites, all of which offer the cool climate conditions that have taken Australian wine to new heights in recent years. Their range includes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Riesling alongside Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Shiraz, which bear Croser’s trademark elegance and precision with Australia’s signature generosity. If you’re looking for Old World refinement with New World exuberance, then Tapanappa’s wines are for you.
* After any discount has been applied, a delivery surcharge is applicable to certain postcodes. (See below for affected postcodes)
All orders delivered within 1-3 working days **
** Deliveries to postcodes highlighted below may take an additional 2 working days.
Please contact us should you have any specific delivery requirements and we will do our best to accommodate.
You will receive an SMS and prior to your delivery being made from our delivery courier (Parcelforce) with options to manage your delivery.
SATURDAY DELIVERY If chosen as an option, orders must be placed before 1pm Friday for delivery that upcoming Saturday. Saturday delivery is subject to regional availability and a surcharge is shown at checkout.
En Primeur Wines are subject to their own Delivery and Return Policy - click here to find out more.
Postcode Exceptions
£19.99 for deliveries under £99, £9.99 for deliveries over £99.
Northern Ireland - BT
Scottish Highlands - AB31 to AB38, AB40 to AB56, IV1 to IV28, IV30 to IV32, IV36 & IV40, IV52 to IV54, IV63, KW1 to KW14, PA21 to PA38, PH4 to PH41, PH49, PH50
UK Islands - HS, IM, IV41 to IV49, IV51, IV55 & IV56, KA27 & KA28, KW15 to KW17, PA20, PA41 to PA49, PA60 to PA78, PH42 to PH44, PO30 to PO41, ZE
Unfortunately we are not able to deliver to the following locations -
Channel Islands / BFPO / PO Boxes / Anywhere outside of the UK
In the unfortunate event of any issues you may have with your delivery, please contact our Customer Service team and we will investigate this for you.
TastingBOX
The TastingBOX is delivered free of charge by UK Royal Mail Tracked 48hr to UK addresses only.
As indicated in our Quality Promise we will happily refund or exchange any faulty bottles. All we ask is the bottles in question are returned to us at least half full for verification purposes. If a bottle is broken on delivery we will also replace or refund it but we do require photographic evidence of the breakage. Equally we can arrange for the bottles to be collected the next time you receive a delivery from us.
Should we be unable to fulfil any part, or all of an order, Perfect Cellar (Beyond the Bottle Ltd) will suggest comparable substitutions. You are free to refuse these suggestions and are eligible for a full refund of relevant parts of the order.
In all instances, Perfect Cellar (Beyond the Bottle Ltd) must be informed of any claim within 24 hours of receipt of delivery by email or telephone. All refunds will be issued after we have received and approved the faulty items and the amount will be re-credited to your account within 30 days. The amount refunded will be equal to the full amount paid for the relevant products at the time of purchase and must be made by the same payment method as the original sale.
If you choose to cancel your contract of sale with Perfect Cellar (Beyond the Bottle Ltd) you may do so within 30 days of receipt of the goods. If the goods have already been dispatched they must be returned to us unopened and undamaged, and Perfect Cellar (Beyond the Bottle Ltd) will not be liable for any costs associated with the original or return delivery.
No refund can be given when a case has left bond as the value will be affected. Individual bottles of Fine Wine will be considered for refund on a case-by-case basis.
We advise contacting our Customers Services team before making any claim to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible.
You may also like
-
Grove Estate Hilltops Shiraz 2020
Country: Australia, New South WalesGrape: Syrah/shiraz£18.72 -
Briar Ridge Dairy Hill Shiraz 2021
Country: Australia, New South WalesGrape: Syrah/shiraz£32.95 -
Briar Ridge Old Vines Shiraz 2019
Country: Australia, New South WalesGrape: Syrah/shiraz£17.44 -
Bobar 85% Pinot Noir 2022
Country: Australia, VictoriaGrape: Pinot Noir£28.69
