FROMM Pinot Noir Churton Vineyard 2015
Bob Campbell
95 Points, 5 Stars
"From 14 year-old vines organically grown on a moderately high density hillside vineyard. Unfined and unfiltered. Supple and quite savoury wine with good density but in an elegant rather than blockbuster style. Dark berry, cherry flavours with toasty, savoury, earthy character supported by slightly chocolate-like oak. Quite different to the Fromm Quarters Vineyard offered at the same price - softer, more savoury and slightly less intense."
Michael Cooper
5 Stars
"The debut 2015 vintage (5*) is extremely rare - only 300 bottles (one barrel) were made. Grown organically in the Churton Vineyard, in the Waihopai Valley, it was fermented with indigenous yeasts, oak-matured for 16 months, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Deep ruby, with a fragrant, savoury bouquet, it has highly concentrated, well-ripened cherry, plum, dried herb and spice flavours, showing impressive complexity, good tannin backbone and obvious potential; best drinking 2019+."
Cameron Douglas
94 Points
"Complex and engaging bouquet with a mix of earthy organic scents then dark cherry and savory scents; quite a toasty oak component and overall complex. On the palate - tense, youthful, savory, earthy and organic, dark berry fruits, medium+ acidity and tannins; an engaging wine with good length and finish. Drink now and through 2025."
Nick Stock, James Suckling.com
93 points
"A really plush and expressive Waihopai Valley pinot noir with plenty of glazed cherry fruit and toasted spiced biscuit complexity. Earthy with a lick of herbs, too. The palate is really fleshy and offers plenty of fluffy tannins in an approachable style. Drink now."
Sam Kim
5 stars
"From the Waihopai Valley, this stylish pinot offers fragrant aromas of dark berry, cured meat, dried herb and almond on the nose, followed by a concentrated palate that is finely textured and beautifully rounded. The wine offers excellent fruit power together with elegant oak infusion, finishing superbly long and savoury. Only 1 barrel made. At its best: now to 2024."
Raymond Chan
5 Stars
"Full, even, dark ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues, paler on the rim. The nose is firm and concentrated with intensely packed aromas of ripe blackberry and black cherry fruit along with an amalgam of dark herbs and black mineral elements, lifted by dark-red, violet and black florals. Medium-full bodied, the palate features a bright and vibrant, aromatic palate with ripe blackberry and black cherry flavours entwined with black minerals and suggestions of dark herbs. The fruit has richness, sweetness and vitality, with fresh, lacy acidity providing energy and tension. The fruit is supported by tightly bound, fine-grained tannins, and the wine has positive linearity, leading to a long, lingering and elegant finish of black fruits, minerals and florals. This is a vibrant, firmly concentrated, black-fruited Pinot Noir with refined tannin extraction, freshness and mineral notes. Match with lamb, beef and semi-hard cheeses over the next 6-8 years. Hand-picked fruit from the ‘Churton’ vineyard, Waihopi Valley, clones 115, 667, Abel and 5, vines 14 y.o. on loess and clay over alluvial gravel, destemmed and indigenous yeast fermented with whole berries to 13.5% alc., the wine spending 3 weeks on skins and aged 16-18 months in 10% new oak. Certified BioGro Organic. 300 bottles made"