Apogee 'Alto' Pinot Noir 2024

A bright ruby, elegant and poised red wine, with a slippery and full mouthfeel, mild tannins and roundness. Perfumes are red berry summer pudding and beautifully integrated oak. The palate finishes with blueberry and raspberry and mild, toasty oak. It fills out with aeration in the opened bottle and will dramatically flesh-out over next 12 months. For current drinking, but the tannin/acid framework will permit extended aging for 10 years. Pair with soft washed rind cheese, roast duck,mushroom risotto.

Normal rainfall in the first half of the season then progressively it became drier towards the key ripening
months of February/ March with a dry April, one of the driest on record. This made the last days of
ripening, which are critical for final flavour, very productive. The growing season October-April was one
of the warmest on record with a GST of 15.9˚C taking us to the limits of the cool-climate definition.

WINEMAKING STYLE
My objective is to present the highly aromatic qualities of the pinot noir grown at Apogee — aromatic red
cherry liqueur and raspberry: without excessive oak intrusion. The key structural component of the palate is
natural, cool-climate acidity supported with soft grape tannins. Traditional Burgundian methods are
employed including whole bunch, cold-soak, wild yeast, and aging in French oak barriques from coopers in
Saint Romain, Burgundy.

TASTING NOTE
A mild water stress was imposed on vines during the ripening period and it has endowed this wine with
bright red-blue colour due to malvidin-3-0-glucoside,a pigment and antioxidant. The unusual feature of this
PN is the high % of 777 clone from Burgundy. This clone does not do well in the warmer drier parts of
Australia but, because of its low vigour, excels in the cool, humid locations like Lebrina/Pipers Brook and
produces lifted red fruit perfumes (raspberry/strawberry). Harvested on a perfect “end of season” date of
29th March 2024. 100% French oak

The Apogee Vineyard is located in northern Tasmania, benefiting from a cool-climate environment that is ideal for growing Pinot Noir. The site, established by renowned winemaker Dr. Andrew Pirie, is known for its attention to detail and low-intervention practices, allowing the natural characteristics of the vineyard to shine through in the wines.

The unique terroir of Apogee contributes to the wine’s signature floral and fruit characteristics, along with the minerality and elegance that define the Alto range. With carefully managed yields and a focus on sustainable viticulture, Apogee produces wines that are both expressive and refined, showcasing the best of Tasmania’s cool-climate viticulture.

95 Points Halliday Wine Companion 2023