Pinot noir is one of the most popular red wine varieties in Australia, and for good reason. The thin-skinned black grape might have a reputation for being difficult to grow, but it's certainly easy to drink.
Typical pinot noir characteristics include soft tannins, high acidity, and red fruit aromas and flavours (such as cherry, strawberry, raspberry and cranberry). More complex examples may also show earthy characters, such as truffle or forest floor. It also pairs beautifully with food, from classic roast duck to Argentinian barbecue, even some fish dishes.
James Halliday once said: “The first problem with pinot is that it is the most reluctant traveller of all the classic grape varieties.” However, once it finds its footing, it settles in long-term. Today, high-quality pinot noir can be found in multiple regions around Australia, including Tasmania, Geelong, Macedon Ranges, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Adelaide Hills, Orange, Great Southern and more.
The 14 wines below span three of the those regions – Tasmania, Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula – and all have been rated 91 points or higher by the Halliday Tasting Team. So buy yourself a bottle, pour a glass and say cheers to pinot noir!
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pinot noir to try
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Helen & Joey Estate
Re'em Pinot Noir 2024
Yarra Valley15% whole bunches. A light, bright cherry crimson. This well-crafted wine has aromas of red cherry, rose petal and just the right amount of whole-bunch–derived mountain herbs. It builds nicely on the light- to medium-bodied palate before culminating with silky and persistent tannins that give the wine both structure and length. Will only get better over the medium term. -
Dawson James
Pinot Noir 2022
TasmaniaMV6 clone pinot noir from the Meadowbank vineyard, planted 1989. Bright ruby with lifted aromas of red/dark cherry, raspberry and red plum fruits cut with hints of exotic spice and amaro herbs, charcuterie, leaf litter, oak spice and citrus blossom. Harmonious and graceful with an enchanting, sleek palate shape, superfine silty tannins and a saline twang to the acidity as it slowly fades. Fantastic stuff. -
Dawson James
Island Belle Pinot Noir 2024
TasmaniaAs I write this, I've just returned from judging at the 2026 Tasmanian Wine Show, where this particular wine picked up the top pinot noir trophy and the Champion Wine of Show. And it's an absolute cracker. Gorgeous ripe fruit (thank you '24 vintage), daubed with exotic spice and struck-flint complexity, high tones of citrus blossom and raspberry and an air of effortless drinkability. The price makes this an absolute no-brainer. It's a great little wine. -
Lillydale Estate
Reserve Pinot Noir 2024
Yarra ValleyFrom a selection of barrels from the original, old-vine, own-rooted and mainly MV6 block. Destemmed and matured in barriques (30% new). A deep-ish, bright garnet. A nicely perfumed bouquet featuring raspberry and cranberry aromas together with some briary and floral scents. Quite a bit more depth and structure than the Yarra Pinot which would be a good wine to drink while you waited for this to expand and open up over the next, say, four to six years. -
Medhurst
Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023
Yarra ValleyHand picked from two blocks, one north-facing and one partially south-facing. About 10% whole bunches in the final cuvée; 30% new wood. A light, bright crimson cherry. Leaps out of the glass with its bouquet of cranberries, redcurrants and rosehips together with some spice and floral top notes. Brightly fruited on the palate too, with fine, gently crunchy tannins and vibrant, palate-cleansing acidity. Very nicely done. -
Mewstone Wines
Pinot Noir 2024
TasmaniaThese Mewstone wines are in fine form lately. They come from a beautiful site, with Mewstone's 600m of D'Entrecasteaux Channel frontage. That maritime freshness manifests itself in the wines in a sea-kissed sapid line that the pure cherry, wild strawberry and raspberry fruits sail upon. This is cut with exotic spice, pomegranate, game meats, dried blossom and earth. Graceful and detailed drinking, with a stony flick to its tail. -
Mount Terrible
Jamieson Pinot Noir 2023
Central Victoria ZoneNever heard of Jamieson? Time to get acquainted with this high part of the world in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, and a producer of one seriously impressive pinot noir. A fragrant, wild herbal lift and vibrant red cherry fruits set it apart. The palate is svelte and even, tannins are lithe and supple, and there's a delicacy of red berry and cherry fruits with crushed herbs and a dusty autumnal earthiness that run deep. Perky and fresh in its youth, it weaves its way with great persistence. -
Tamar Ridge
Grand Assemblage Pinot Noir 2022
TasmaniaMid-ruby in the glass with crunch red cherry, red apple, redcurrant and red plum fruit tones along with hints of raspberry pip, five-spice, leaf litter, roast game, hoisin, wildflowers, softly spoken oak spice, dried citrus rind and distant crushed herbs. It throws a supple, slinky palate shape with a bright, febrile mineral cadence. Plenty of spicy and light gamey complexity and fine, sandy tannins providing support and frame. Finishes long and flush with spice and sour cherry fruits. -
Dexter Wines
Pinot Noir 2024
Mornington PeninsulaShowing off the exuberance of youth with vitality and vibrancy, all appealing elements. It’s a lovely wine, pretty and aromatic, juicy and supple. It's full of pink and red cherries, a dash of kirsch, warm spices, cardamom and some minty notes. It’s lighter framed and elegant, with fine tannins. While lacking some complexity today, it should build on that in time. -
Spring Vale Vineyards
Estate Pinot Noir 2023
TasmaniaAn attractive East Coast pinot noir that shows fruit tones of wild strawberry, raspberry and red cherry fruits with hints of mixed spice, blood orange, citrus blossom, crushed herbs, light leaf litter undertones, charcuterie, a sprinkling of rose petals and turned earth. There's a nice sappy juiciness to the fruit on the palate with an array of complex spice, herb and meaty notes, bright, minerally acidity and fine, pillowy tannins with a raspberry pip endpoint. It's great drinking, that's for sure. -
Lightfoot Wines
Myrtle Point Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024
GippslandIt’s not overly complex but gee it’s a gorgeous, lighter-framed pinot and immediately appealing. Gently spiced, softly fruited with red cherries, with wafts of rosehips and petals and a touch of savouriness, too. It’s tangy and juicy, with bright, refreshing acidity and feathery-fine tannins. -
Lillydale Estate
Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2024
Yarra ValleyA light, bright ruby. Instantly appealing with its aromas of poached strawberry, light floral scents and a touch of spice. The light- to medium-bodied palate is well balanced, with just enough gently chewy tannin to make this both a good food wine but also suggesting that this will continue to improve in the short to medium term. -
Two Bud Spur
Pinot Noir 2020
TasmaniaHuon-Valley-sourced pinot noir matured for 12 months in French oak, 50% new. Dark ruby with aromas of wild strawberry, plum and dark cherry fruits with hints of citrus blossom, leaf litter, pomegranate, medina spice, cherry clafoutis and turned earth. It's a deep style of pinot with a really appealing flow of ripe fruit, superfine tannins and a vivid, sea-kissed acidity that I just loved. Just the right amount of chew to those tannins on the finish, too. -
Nocton Vineyard
N1 Pinot Noir 2022
TasmaniaDeep ruby in the glass with aromas of ripe red and dark cherry, raspberry and wild strawberry along with hints of fine spice, dried flowers, nutty oak, turned leaf litter, charcuterie, pomegranate and mushroom terrine. Some red plum joins in on the palate, which shows bright, pure fruit, fine acidity and a stony, savoury composure as the wine trails off.
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