Rippon 2017 Mature Vine Pinot Noir 750ml

Seductive, come-hither Pinot Noir that tastes like it's just finished a three-day yoga retreat. I could talk about the dried herb, umami and plum flavors, but that would be neglecting what is important about this wine: its ease of texture and in particular the almost honey-like texture of the tannins. It has relatively delicacy on the palate but it expands, giving a sense of generosity in terms of the space it covers while in your mouth. Starting to drink now – as are many of the 2017s vs the current-release 2019s – this should continue to evolve gracefully until the latter half of the 2020s. The finish is all tea leaf and plum, spice and cedar. And, in the world of Pinot Noir, still relatively well priced.

Score: 94 points -- Rebeccay Gibb MW, Vinous, 2021