Gentle Folk Wines: Scary Gully & Forest Range Pinot Noir 2015

I kicked off Tuesday’s Artisans of Australian Wine tasting with Gareth Belton at Gentle Folk Wines (Les Caves de Pyrene).  The Adelaide Hills-based label was my find of the day.  Gentle by name, gentle by nature, Belton’s Adelaide Hills’ Pinot Noirs shared a delicate persistence of fruit and tannin.  Below you’ll find my notes on this contrasting pair.

First, a quick word about Gentle Folk Wines.  Belton really puts the artisan into artisanal.  The marine biology graduate – a phycology (seaweed) specialist – produces a little over 2,000 bottles of Forest Range and a little under 1,500 bottles of Scary Gully Pinot Noir.

Small wonder a member of staff from his UK importer, Les Caves de Pyrene, put in a plea for more juice.  Meantime, Belton’s prayers revolve around securing his own patch of dirt in the Adelaide Hills.  I wish him every success with that.  His sell out wines suggest he’s on the right path.

You can read a Q & A with Belton on Les Caves de Pyrene’s blog here.   Contact them for retail prices.  And click here for my highlights of Wine Australia’s Artisan’s of Australian Wine tasting, including a lovely Bordeaux blend from Gentle Folk Wines.

Gentle Folk Wines Forest Range Pinot Noir 2015 (Adelaide Hills)

It’s hard to believe this wine weighs in at 13.5%.  Impossible!  It’s so fresh, fine and crisp, with great acid line to its gentle but insistent red fruits.  It gives this wine impetus and length.  Along the journey it reveals hallmark Hills’ herbaceous notes – pine needle forest floor and a lick of aniseed (the vineyard is at over 600m and, I suspect, ‘Forest Range’ points to the source).  A touch of campari florals too.  A fine cobweb of tannins helps harness the flavours – a subtle counterpoint to its fluidity.  A bright but focused Pinot with more to give.  13.5% alc. 2,112 bottles produced.  UK RRP £32.49

Gentle Folk Wines Scary Gully Pinot Noir 2015 (Adelaide Hills)

Scary Gully Pinot Noir pictured left

While Forest Range is mostly de-stemmed, Scary Gully sees 100% whole bunch ferment with partial carbonic maceration.  While the Forest Range Pinot is coolly focused, Scary Gully busts a different shape in the mouth.  It’s more exuberant, teasing its way into every corner of your mouth.  I dare you to resist its smile-cracking immediacy!  Thinking about it, it’s funny that I mention this before the whole bunch and carbonic maceration notes.  With its pepper and peonies, this open-faced wine makes no bones about its wine-making history.  Though I didn’t taste it, Scary Gully Pinot has a bubblegum bounce and juicy, whole mouth feel about it.  Fine sandpapery tannins – a point of anchor for this wine’s bouyancy – strike a slightly more serious tone on the finish. Thoroughly engaging.  13% alc. 1,453 bottles produced.  UK RRP £35.99