Brooksbank Estate Pinot Noir 2017 | Orange NSW Wine

Description

Brooksbank Estate Pinot Noir 2017 – Orange, NSW

The 2017 Brooksbank Estate Pinot Noir shows a generous side of Orange’s cool-climate terroir. While softer and more fruit-driven than 2016, it retains the estate’s signature structure and natural poise. Fruit from low-yielding vines, aged 15–20 years and grown above 1000 metres, was hand-picked and wild-fermented with 50% whole bunches. The wine was bottled without fining or filtration, preserving its texture and purity.

Tasting Profile

Aromas of red and dark cherry rise with floral lift, joined by spice, cedar, and forest hints. The palate feels generous yet precise, its silky tannins supported by bright acidity.
Whole-bunch fermentation adds a spicy cedar nuance that gives depth and shape. Over time, it will reveal mushroom, truffle, and forest floor tones, adding earthy savour to its red-fruited core.

Vineyard & Winemaking

• • Region: Orange, NSW

  • Elevation: Over 1000 metres

  • Vine Age: 15–20 years

  • Clones: 777, 667, 115

  • Fermentation: ~50% whole bunch, wild yeast

  • Oak: French oak (¼ new – Tonnellerie D’Aquitaine Fontainebleau)

  • Sulphur: Minimal, added after malolactic fermentation

  • Fining/Filtration: None

  • Production: 110 dozen

Fruit was picked at 12.5–13.5° Baume in mid-March. Ferments began after a week of natural carbonic maceration. Gentle foot-stomping and twice-daily plunging managed flavour and tannin extraction. The wine was hand-pressed to French oak, matured for finesse, and bottled in March 2019.

Philosophy

Every Brooksbank Estate wine begins with patience and respect for nature. The process avoids additives and heavy handling, focusing on honest expression. The result is a small-batch Pinot Noir that balances elegance, spice, and authenticity.

About the Winemaker

Adam King, owner and winemaker, brings more than a decade of experience across Australia and New Zealand, including work with Crawford River and Hochkirch / Tarrington Vineyards. His focus is on crafting wines that reflect place, season, and individuality—Pinot Noir with integrity and quiet intensity.