3 Years of the Noon Cellar Door

Drew and Rae Noon are in an enviable position. 

 

 

Their cellar door opens but three weekends a year, with most of their wine pre-sold to members, and Langtons Classification.

 

 

This must be every aspiring young McLaren Vale winemaker’s dream situation.

 

 

Located on Rifle Range Road, close to Pertaringa owned by Geoff Hardy, is the Noon house block and headquarters.

 

 

The new winery has room for vinification, the cellar door, a barrell room, an overflow bottling/packaging/storage room and offices upstairs.

 

 

As members, we order up each year and head to cellar door on one of the November weekends it is open to collect our allocation and taste the new releases.

 

 

We pat the winecat.

 

 

We admire the winedog.

 

 

We’re impressed by the bravery of the winechooks.

 

 

This allows me to compare three vintages of the wines when they were first on sale.

In terms of the 2014’s – released November 2015 – generally they have a nice softness an early drinkability that Drew likes. It’s a very good idea to drink one or two now, and stash the balance away for a few years to see how they develop. 

 

 

The 2014’s are not as fruit forward as previous years, they’re a touch more herbaceous.

 

 

First, a touch of history. 

 

 

The Bushing King has a long and boozy history in the Vale.

 

 

In 2013, by the time we arrived, everything was sold out, except for two wines. 

 

 

In 2014, it was a stormy day.

 

 

Everything was sold out. 

 

 

2015 and everything was sold out again.

 

 

The only way to get your hands on the incredibly good value Noon wines is to join the mailing list. But be patient – send your expression of interest now, and you’ll be lucky to get in sometime in 2017.

 

 

High Noon Rose

2013 

The aroma is of fresh vibrant fruit, perhaps the grenache was picked early, with a red-fruit palate and nice low level phenolics. This, and all the Rose labels, were painted by Rae Noon.

 

 

 

2014

Rose big style red fruit, lemon nose. Grippiness & barrel astringency nice fruit balance.

 

 

2015

Bright pink with rusty hue.

Fresh raspberry but with a savouriness too.

Crunchy acid lasting savoury and raspberry flavour. Not at all sweet.

 

 

Twelve Bells

2012 

The 12 Bells is known as a mini- Eclipse. This Shiraz Grenache blend is an absolute steal at just $10 a bottle. Aromas are dark stewed prune. Medium to full bodied but linear on the palate.  Balanced & bright very good length without alcohol heat.

 

2013

12 Bells juicy fruit and a bit of grip at the end.

 

 

2014

Purple with rusty rim. Sexy legs.

Dusty phoof with a touch of cooked red fruit.

Savoury, plums and leather ones. Dark Choc is the lingering finish.

 

 

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

 

2013

Cab had a greater range Grenache liked the sun

 

2014

From Langhorne Creed freshness fruit and softness

Touch of orange, sexy legs.
Bit closed herbaceous, touch of capsicum, tomato leaf. Touch smokiness.
Fresh, brighter on the palate. Quite savoury but very drinkable. Touch of classy oak and vanilla on the finish. Tannins soft.

 

 

Reserve Shiraz

2013

Reserve Shiraz black currant nice acid structure Mr Wino’s pick of the day. Grippy tannins.

 

2014

Might be a reduced yield in 2016

Deeper purple. Sexy legs (there’s a trend here)

Ashy cigar box character

Peppery, dusty. Touch of rose petal.

Spicier and drier than the cab. A little more plush on the palate, more plum in the middle. Softer too less acid and beautiful tannin.

 

 

Eclipse

2013

Dry bit some sweetness jumps out.

Grippiness but still balanced.

 

 

2014

75% Grenache

Floral raspberry but also a savouriness. Pretty nose
Similar to ours

Not drying tannin, it adds length and flesh to it, but it is most present here.

 

 

Special Wines

2013 Twelve Hundred Hours Cabernet Sauvignon 

Varietal herbaceousness but not too much. Lighter and softer suited to earlier drinking – same fruit as reserve can warm early season sizable crisp tannin, softer win,e earlier maturing. 

 

 

2014 Tawny

Smells like wintertime.

Still a touch of Crimson in the colour.

Spicy, rich, Christmas cake mixed fruit. Big whack of baking spices.

Sweet but not syrupy. Spice metres the dried fruit intensity. Lasting chocolate and raisin, rum and raisin character.

 

 

Before you go, a word of advice.

 

Pinnable Image:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments make my day – so tell me – What did you like the sound of most at Noon? Have your say below!