Place of Changing Winds High Density Pinot Noir 2021

Place of Changing Winds is a high-density vineyard located on the southern foothills of Mount Macedon in central Victoria, Australia. The name comes from the original inhabitants, the Wurundjeri people, who named this place Warekilla or Place of Changing Winds. This description still holds true today. Place of Changing Winds make two sets of wines: Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from their own vines, and Syrah and Marsanne from two grower vineyards.

The Estate wines comes exclusively from Place of Changing Winds property. The altitude is 500 metres above sea level and the vines are surrounded by native plantings and thousands of hectares of forest. It’s a genuinely cool site, with good rain, cold nights and a wide diurnal range. One of the most distinctive features of our vineyard is the high density. There are almost 45,000 vines planted across 3.1 hectares, with densities of mostly 12,000 and 14,000 vines per hectare, but also significant plots at 20,000, 25,000 and 33,000 vines per hectare. The team at Place of Changing Winds have developed a system of agronomic practice that is adapted specifically to their winery. It is a meticulous viticulture with no synthetic chemicals used and a great deal of manual labour. The cellar is also next to the vines, meaning the fruit goes directly to the fermenters in a matter of minutes. They manage everything on site ourselves, including bottling. The Estate Series wines, then, reflect both the vineyards and our their compromise approach.

Place of Changing Winds also produces Syrah and Marsanne from two vineyards further north. One vineyard is located in the Heathcote region, on the famed red ‘Cambrian’ soils of the Mt Camel Ranges. This is a considerably warmer site than their own vineyard and lies about 130km north of the cellars. The second vineyard is in Harcourt, 85km to the north. Harcourt is cooler than Heathcote, yet still warmer than their Estate, and the soils here are pure, granitic sands. Place of Changing Winds was awarded the best new winery of the year 2022 by James Halliday. 

Less than 10% whole bunch from vines planted at 20000 to 33000 vines per hectare. Immense. Need gnomes to farm it. The yields are extra low too. High toned perfume, lots of white pepper, preserved cherry, red plum, roast vegetables, anise. So attractive. The palate has a come hither fleshiness and richness, dark spice, new leather, brightness to fruit but its the dark stuff and yet finds a crispness with incredible inward concentration. Gravelly grip with a glide. It has this open weave and flavour, depth too but has this really distinct feel of ‘there is more to come’ – such a good personality in that regard. - Mike Bennie, The Wine Front, 96+ Points

Great clarity and depth of colour, and an extra layer of richness, with essence of dark berries, then red berries minutes later, the mouthfeel supple and smooth. The fruit was 90% destemmed, and post ferment was matured for 18 months in Stockinger oak (25% new). Drink to 2043. - James Halliday, 98 Points

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - Australia
Region - Heathcote, Victoria
Vintage - 2021
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.8%
Other - Organic