2018 Wallis Pinot Noir

Wallis Vineyard faces north on the southern slopes of Main Ridge. It was planted in 1995 with the MV6 clone. Very late budburst followed by a warm, dry spring and summer. Grapes hand-picked and fermented spontaneously. Pressed after 30 days (!) on the skins and aged for 11 months in a mix of old and new French oak barriques. Very pale ruby (so those grape skins must surely have been quite thin) and a pale rim. Mushroomy nose. Lovely ethereal texture and on the palate there is delicacy, sweetness and more of those mushrooms with perhaps a hint of violets. But it's very delicate indeed. I'd be intrigued to see what I could find at this price from Burgundy. Today's Sylvain Pataille Longeroies 2017 Marsannay at £35 from The Wine Society was pretty damned good… I wouldn't mind just a little less sweetness on this. (JR)