Bindi Darshan Pinoit Noir

 I have never done this before, that is to start with a description from the winery website, but it works in this case. The wine is new and relatively unknown, and the description quite simple and forward.

 Darshan vineyard is a tribute to Bindi founder Bill Darshan Singh Dhillon, who passed in early 2013. The vineyard preparations began a few months afterwards with planting taking place in 2014. Darshan faces west on quartz riddled soils similar to the Original Vineyard and is planted at 11,300 vines per hectare with 20% of the vines being a Crazy section at 22,600 vines per hectare featuring four clones. Over the first seven vintages, to 2023, we have seen this site produce ethereal wine showing exquisite perfume and spice with a lacey, sinewy, flowing long palate. Darshan , like Original Vineyard, is about perfume and finesse whereas Block 8 and Block 5 share fruit depth and structure in common.

Michael Dhillon, the current winemaker, has a strong sense of family tradition and history. Hence this naming. I drank the 2017 Bindi Darshan Pinot Noir. So, the vines are three (!) years old, but what unfolds in the mouth is astonishing. The wine is not too concentrated, but the strawberry flavours and silky tannins deliver a superbly elegant and ethereal mouthfeel. It is just so beautiful. Heaven in the mouth! I can't wait for this vineyard to mature.

Score: 96/+++