Moss Wood 2012 Pinot Noir

 MW12PN_750

Wine Facts

Harvested: 23/02/2012
27/02/2012
Bottled: 14/11/2013
Released: 20/11/2014
Yield: t/ha
Baume: 13.513.8
Alcohol: 14.00%
Vintage Rating: 9.5/10

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Tasting Notes

Colour and condition:

Medium to deep ruby hue; bright condition.
Nose:
Bright fruit aromas presenting a lifted combination of musk, roses, strawberries and cherries and then underneath some earth and tar. Great fruit depth but with the beginnings of Pinot Noir’s fascinating complex nuances. Returning to the nose, each visit reveals a new component.

Palate:
The wine follows a similar thread on the palate. There are initial flavours of strawberry and quince jelly, giving the wine a long and generous feel but it’s not heavy in any way. Rather, it is bright and fresh. There is also the beginning of Pinot’s beguiling earthiness – mushrooms, tar and leather, all waiting to evolve.

Moss Wood 2022 Pinot Noir – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

20% of the fruit went into fermentation as whole bunches, adding in the search for texture and complexity. Maturation was for a year and a half in French oak barrels, 18% new. A pale crimson hue, the nose exhibits a slightly savoury/near rustic style with red fruits, warm earth, aniseed, undergrowth, mushrooms, raspberries and cherries.…

Read more

Moss Wood 2022 Pinot Noir – Angus Hughson, Wine Pilot

This charming 2022 Margaret River Pinot Noir is expressive and radiates with cherry pit and rolling tobacco lined with spicy undertones and a generous but well integrated serve of French oak. It then takes a wild turn, with engaging gamey, earthy complexity taking charge with a supple texture and a nice twist of acidity. Good…

Read more

Moss Wood 2022 Pinot Noir – Huon Hooke, The Real Review

Youthful red-purple colour, bright and deep. There are cherry, ginger and iodine/peat aromas which are bright and fresh and fruit driven, while the palate is excitingly intense and bright fruited, with a core of ripe fruit sweetness and assertive but nicely balanced tannin structure. The wine fills out beautifully on the finish and rolls on…

Read more

Moss Wood 2022 Pinot Noir – Wine Worth Writing About – Quality!

Clear ruby with a purple/pink hue and a floral and spiced nose of blossoms, violets, cherries and lush red berries, blood orange and Chinotto, roasted fig leaf, sweet Darjeeling tea, dried mint, vanilla, cassia, forest underbrush and a gentle charred smokiness. In the mouth, you’re met with deliciously ripe, juicy, yet crunchy flavours of black…

Read more

Moss Wood 2022 Pinot Noir – Fergal Gleeson, Great Wine Blog

Moss Wood Pinot Noir 2022 is a delicious and accomplished wine. Lots of ‘pinotosity’ on the nose – strawberry, cherry and florals. Those red fruits flow through on the palate in what is a well balanced wine. Balance? It’s the refreshing, bright acid and fine smooth tannins that accompany the fruit. It’s made with about…

Read more

Moss Wood 2022 Pinot Noir – Ray Jordan, Ray Jordan Wine

Pinot in Margaret River remains an enigma. Yet when you get good years it works well. The generosity of the ’22 vintage is captured in this pretty and powerful pinot. Wild raspberry and cherry notes with a subtle spice. The palate is deeply intense but delivers a light effortless touch. A firm core of fine…

Read more

Moss Wood 2021 Pinot Noir – Jane Faulkner – James Halliday, The Wine Companion

Vibrant and lively, full of red flowers and redcurrants, black cherries and dried raspberry powder with some red lollies too. The palate is tight, a little lean, yet full of sweet fruit and puckering acidity, which does temper the slight bitter green edge to the tannins. It has an appeal. August, 2024  

Read more

Moss Wood 2020 Pinot Noir – Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate

The 2020 Pinot Noir is concentrated and red fruited, with berries and garden mint. The mint character feels like a vineyard characteristic to me, as I see it so often in the wines, and it sits so well within the red fruit character of the wine, which includes red cherries, pomegranate, strawberry and Pink Lady…

Read more

Moss Wood 2021 Pinot Noir – Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate

The 2021 Pinot Noir leads with strawberry and garden mint on the nose, which pull through onto the palate. The wine is intense and concentrated, although light in the glass, and it shows a cavalcade of red fruits, briar, rose, cherry, pomegranate and pink peppercorns. This is a really lovely wine here. The garden mint/…

Read more

WA Wine Review 2024

Ray Jordan “Moss Wood is a family-owned wine company and a pioneer of the Margaret River region. Planted in 1969, Moss Wood is an important founding estate of Margaret River. Clare and Keith Mugford, as viticulturalists, winemakers and proprietors, have been tending the vineyard and making wine at Moss Wood since 1984 and 1979, respectively.…

Read more

Moss Wood 2021 Pinot Noir – Fergal Gleeson, Great Wine Blog

Beautiful aromatics of black and red fruits on the nose. they follow through on tasting along with cola and some fine, earthy tannins. It’s a clean and polished Pinot with great balance and acidity courtesy of a cooler vintage. Not many have followed Moss Wood’s lead on making a premium Pinot in Margaret River but…

Read more

Moss Wood 2021 Pinot Noir – Ray Jordan, Ray Jordan Wine

This cooler vintage was ideal for pinot from this part of Margaret River. Perfumed and highly scented aromas of strawberry and sour cherry with a slightly truffly influence. The velvety palate captures that iron fist in a velvet varietal character. Smooth and seamless with a gossamer like sheen. Beautiful. November, 2023  

Read more

Moss Wood 2021 Pinot Noir – Angus Hughson, Wine Pilot.com

This gently fragrant 2021 Pinot Noir offers up fleshy aromas of raspberry compote, tobacco and spice, nicely framed by French oak. Dry, and mid weight, layers of red licorice and raspberry flavours rise up on a supple palate with commendable length. Very approachable to enjoy now and over the medium term. December, 2023  

Read more

Moss Wood 2021 Pinot Noir – Andrew Caillard, Wine Pilot.com – The Vintage Journal

Medium deep crimson. Very attractive strawberry pastille, red cherry, chinotto aromas and flavours, fine slinky textures, lovely mid palate viscosity and underlying roasted walnut  notes. Finishes chalky and minerally with seductive sweet fruits. Early to medium term drinking wine. Drink now – 2027 September, 2023  

Read more

Moss Wood 2021 Pinot Noir – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot.com

Always a controversial wine, one wonders whether detractors base their dislike simply on a once-prevailing view that Western Australia cannot or should not make Pinot Noir. These days, we have more than enough evidence that good Pinot can most certainly come from the West. Others simply like the wine because it is attractive and enjoyable…

Read more

Moss Wood 2022 Pinot Noir – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

20% of the fruit went into fermentation as whole bunches, adding in the search for texture and complexity. Maturation was for a year and a half in French oak barrels, 18% new. A pale crimson hue, the nose exhibits a slightly savoury/near rustic style with red fruits, warm earth, aniseed, undergrowth, mushrooms, raspberries and cherries.…

Read more

Moss Wood 2022 Pinot Noir – Angus Hughson, Wine Pilot

This charming 2022 Margaret River Pinot Noir is expressive and radiates with cherry pit and rolling tobacco lined with spicy undertones and a generous but well integrated serve of French oak. It then takes a wild turn, with engaging gamey, earthy complexity taking charge with a supple texture and a nice twist of acidity. Good…

Read more

Moss Wood 2022 Pinot Noir – Huon Hooke, The Real Review

Youthful red-purple colour, bright and deep. There are cherry, ginger and iodine/peat aromas which are bright and fresh and fruit driven, while the palate is excitingly intense and bright fruited, with a core of ripe fruit sweetness and assertive but nicely balanced tannin structure. The wine fills out beautifully on the finish and rolls on…

Read more

Moss Wood 2022 Pinot Noir – Wine Worth Writing About – Quality!

Clear ruby with a purple/pink hue and a floral and spiced nose of blossoms, violets, cherries and lush red berries, blood orange and Chinotto, roasted fig leaf, sweet Darjeeling tea, dried mint, vanilla, cassia, forest underbrush and a gentle charred smokiness. In the mouth, you’re met with deliciously ripe, juicy, yet crunchy flavours of black…

Read more

Moss Wood 2022 Pinot Noir – Fergal Gleeson, Great Wine Blog

Moss Wood Pinot Noir 2022 is a delicious and accomplished wine. Lots of ‘pinotosity’ on the nose – strawberry, cherry and florals. Those red fruits flow through on the palate in what is a well balanced wine. Balance? It’s the refreshing, bright acid and fine smooth tannins that accompany the fruit. It’s made with about…

Read more

Moss Wood 2022 Pinot Noir – Ray Jordan, Ray Jordan Wine

Pinot in Margaret River remains an enigma. Yet when you get good years it works well. The generosity of the ’22 vintage is captured in this pretty and powerful pinot. Wild raspberry and cherry notes with a subtle spice. The palate is deeply intense but delivers a light effortless touch. A firm core of fine…

Read more

Moss Wood 2021 Pinot Noir – Jane Faulkner – James Halliday, The Wine Companion

Vibrant and lively, full of red flowers and redcurrants, black cherries and dried raspberry powder with some red lollies too. The palate is tight, a little lean, yet full of sweet fruit and puckering acidity, which does temper the slight bitter green edge to the tannins. It has an appeal. August, 2024  

Read more

Moss Wood 2020 Pinot Noir – Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate

The 2020 Pinot Noir is concentrated and red fruited, with berries and garden mint. The mint character feels like a vineyard characteristic to me, as I see it so often in the wines, and it sits so well within the red fruit character of the wine, which includes red cherries, pomegranate, strawberry and Pink Lady…

Read more

Moss Wood 2021 Pinot Noir – Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate

The 2021 Pinot Noir leads with strawberry and garden mint on the nose, which pull through onto the palate. The wine is intense and concentrated, although light in the glass, and it shows a cavalcade of red fruits, briar, rose, cherry, pomegranate and pink peppercorns. This is a really lovely wine here. The garden mint/…

Read more

WA Wine Review 2024

Ray Jordan “Moss Wood is a family-owned wine company and a pioneer of the Margaret River region. Planted in 1969, Moss Wood is an important founding estate of Margaret River. Clare and Keith Mugford, as viticulturalists, winemakers and proprietors, have been tending the vineyard and making wine at Moss Wood since 1984 and 1979, respectively.…

Read more

Moss Wood 2021 Pinot Noir – Fergal Gleeson, Great Wine Blog

Beautiful aromatics of black and red fruits on the nose. they follow through on tasting along with cola and some fine, earthy tannins. It’s a clean and polished Pinot with great balance and acidity courtesy of a cooler vintage. Not many have followed Moss Wood’s lead on making a premium Pinot in Margaret River but…

Read more

Moss Wood 2021 Pinot Noir – Ray Jordan, Ray Jordan Wine

This cooler vintage was ideal for pinot from this part of Margaret River. Perfumed and highly scented aromas of strawberry and sour cherry with a slightly truffly influence. The velvety palate captures that iron fist in a velvet varietal character. Smooth and seamless with a gossamer like sheen. Beautiful. November, 2023  

Read more

Moss Wood 2021 Pinot Noir – Angus Hughson, Wine Pilot.com

This gently fragrant 2021 Pinot Noir offers up fleshy aromas of raspberry compote, tobacco and spice, nicely framed by French oak. Dry, and mid weight, layers of red licorice and raspberry flavours rise up on a supple palate with commendable length. Very approachable to enjoy now and over the medium term. December, 2023  

Read more

Moss Wood 2021 Pinot Noir – Andrew Caillard, Wine Pilot.com – The Vintage Journal

Medium deep crimson. Very attractive strawberry pastille, red cherry, chinotto aromas and flavours, fine slinky textures, lovely mid palate viscosity and underlying roasted walnut  notes. Finishes chalky and minerally with seductive sweet fruits. Early to medium term drinking wine. Drink now – 2027 September, 2023  

Read more

Moss Wood 2021 Pinot Noir – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot.com

Always a controversial wine, one wonders whether detractors base their dislike simply on a once-prevailing view that Western Australia cannot or should not make Pinot Noir. These days, we have more than enough evidence that good Pinot can most certainly come from the West. Others simply like the wine because it is attractive and enjoyable…

Read more

Vintage Notes

A classic year for Margaret River, with good rainfall at the right times, consistent warmth without excessive heat and slightly above average crops - all the right ingredients for a good vintage.

For calendar year 2011, rainfall finished slightly up and so the vines had plenty of soil moisture, so crucial for unirrigated vineyards.

In addition, temperatures through the growing season were above average, although not excessively. This allowed the vines to ripen consistently, especially during December and January, when temperatures were about 1-2⁰C above average. For example, the mean maximum temperature for January 2012 was 30.9⁰C, nearly 2⁰ above average. The peak of the heat came on 26th, 27th and 28th of that month, when we experienced 39.7⁰, 40.8⁰ and 37.9⁰, respectively. This was quite a spike, but fortunately it didn’t last. Temperatures eased in February, usually our warmest month, when we averaged 29.1⁰C, nearly 1⁰ below the mean. From then on, it was plain sailing.

The good growing conditions meant crop levels on both clones of Pinot Noir were above average. Typically, the vineyard will yield around 6.40 tonnes per hectare but in 2012 it was a record-setting 8.62, a 35% increase.

One of the curiosities of the vintage is the seeds were slow to ripen. We suspect this may have been a product of this higher yield. In the hope of getting better tannin balance, we adopted our usual strategy of waiting until they were hard and crunchy, but this meant leaving the fruit on the vine for longer. In an average year, we pick Pinot Noir 100 days after the flowering and its usual sugar ripeness at that point is approximately 13⁰ Baume. However, in 2012 the seeds didn’t ripen until 114 days after flowering, by which time the sugar ripeness had reached approximately 13.6 Baume. The resulting wine is rich and perfumed and one of the prettiest we’ve made in recent times.

It may also be that the fruit intensity was assisted by the other technique used to enhance quality in high yielding years - “saignee”. This is where some juice is drained off prior to fermentation, to help improve the concentration of colour and flavour and in 2012 we reduced the juice volume by 20%.

Finally, there were no negative quality influences, with the birds kept under control with the application of the nets and our fungicide spray program was successful in preventing disease.

 

Production Notes

Median Harvest Dates:

Clone D4V2 – 23rd February, 2012
Clone D5V12a – 27th February, 2012

Harvest Ripeness:
Clone D4V2 – 13.5⁰ Baume
Clone D5V12a – 13.8⁰ Baume

As with all Moss Wood wines, the fruit was hand picked and then destemmed into small, open, stainless steel fermenters. Each batch was then cooled to 8⁰C and allowed to soak for 72 hours and then allowed to warm to ambient temperature. At this point, the batches were seeded with pure yeast culture and fermentation proceeded, with temperatures controlled to a maximum of 30⁰C. Hand plunging was carried out 3 times per day, for extraction of colour and flavour.

After 2 weeks, each batch was pressed to stainless steel tank and underwent malolactic fermentation. Once this was completed the wine was racked to oak at the beginning of April, 2012. All the barrels were 225 litre French oak and 12% were new.

After 18 months in barrel the wine was racked to stainless steel tank and prepared for bottling. Fining trials were carried out and it was decided to treat the wine with a small dose of egg whites. After this it was sterile filtered and bottled on 14th November, 2013.

 

Cellaring Notes

This is definitely a serious cellaring wine and will repay at least 15 years of patience. Over that time it will develop its full bottle bouquet and round and soften. This does not mean it will deteriorate once it passes this mark. Rather, it will hold this plateau of softness and complexity for at least another decade.