2023 Murdoch Hill Apollo Pinot Noir

96 pts
Sexy premium Pinot Noir release from Murdoch Hill, precise and pure. 98 points and likely in the running for the Halliday Wine Companion Pinot Noir of the Year. Only made in limited quantities.

Price:
Sale price$80.00
Stock:
Sold out
Rendering loop-subscriptions

Description

The Apollo Pinot Noir is the flagship Pinot from Murdoch Hill and one of the best examples yet from Michael Downer’s Lenswood vineyard in the Adelaide Hills.

Planted in 1989, this site has grown into one of the most impressive Pinot vineyards in South Australia. The 2023 release comes from the original D5V12 blocks, rooted in ironstone and quartz, along with one Dijon 114/115 block that adds aromatic lift and red-fruited brightness.

About 20% whole bunch was used for structure and spice, while 40% new French oak brings texture without overt flavour. The wine is fine and focused, showing red cherry, wild strawberry and dried herb, supported by long, chalky tannins and clean acidity.

It’s elegant, balanced and built to age. This is the most complete Pinot Noir yet from Murdoch Hill - proof that Lenswood belongs among Australia’s top Pinot regions.

96 points - "This is comprised entirely of Lenswood fruit and the average vine age is 30-plus years. I anticipate the release of this wine from Murdoch Hill's 'space' series each year. Medium weight with dialled-up concentration, raspberry, apple fruit leather, subtle clove and cinnamon spice, an earthy moss character with dried leaves strewn atop. The tannins pull everything inward, concentrating the flavours of the wine further, suggesting a long life ahead. A beautiful reminder and promise of the potential of the region." - Katrina Butler (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points - "Lifted and perfumed on the nose, with aromas of raspberries, wild strawberries, cassia bark and earth. The palate is medium-bodied with finely integrated acidity and tannins, giving notes of dark cherries, dried herbs and graphite. Wonderfully constructed with an underlying power. Excellent. Drink or hold. Screw cap." - Ryan Montgomery (James Suckling)

95 points - "It’s savoury and dark aromatically, but the palate has a cooling cherry pit mineral feel with great intensity. Dark cherry, earth, brown spice and subtle raspberry are promptly wrapped up in firm, sappy tannins and long, persistent dark cherry acidity. Wonderfully poised, clean and fresh through the finish. Time in the cellar will reward." - Tom Kline (Inside Burgundy)

Customer Reviews

Customer Reviews

Based on 5 reviews
80%
(4)
0%
(0)
20%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
C
Claude G.
Excellent

Great drop worth cellaring

R
Ross
Green

A disappointing surprise.
Purchased 3 bottles following the strong reviews and apparent glowing support for this wine.
I found it to be far less attractive with a green and herbaceous finish. For a 2 year old Pinot I expected some less attractive but this is definitely not an Impressive wine when compared to others at this price point. Wont be buying it again and pleased only a spend of circa $240. I would prefer to choose other options from the Tasmanian or Victorian Pinot ranks.

B
Brian H.
Best Adelaide Hills Pinot I've ever had

I'm not usually a big fan of Adelaide Hills Pinot, but this is easily the best I've tried from that region. Should be for the price I guess, but this is actually worth the dollars. Pristine varietal pinot, savoury whole bunch, fine tannin backbone, long fresh finish. Wish I could afford heaps more, but 1-2 will have to do.

j
jo l.
Delicious

Great Pinot noir .
Gorgeous fruit balanced by subtle tannin and acidity. Elegant.
Will cellar beautifully too.
Love it.

N
Neil F.
One of the best

This Pinot is one of the best wines that I’ve had in a long while. Cheers

Crafted with 100% Lenswood fruit the 2023 Apollo displays a core of red fruit, wild forest floor aromas and subtle, woody spices. 20% whole bunch influence and 40% new oak adds subtle complexing layers producing a medium bodied wine with intensity and drive yet still displaying brightness and freshness.

Elegant, structured, and deeply expressive, the 2023 Apollo Pinot Noir is a true reflection of its site and season.

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type Red
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Pinot Noir
Country Australia
Region Adelaide Hills
Australian State SA
Feature High Score
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
James Suckling
Inside Burgundy
Critic Score 96
95
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
Closure Screw Cap

Murdoch Hill

Murdoch Hill is a family-owned winery captained by talented young winemaker Michael Downer.

Downer splits the range in two: his clean-cut, consistently high-quality ‘Estate’ wines are excellent value and perpetually reliable, and his quirky, adventurous ‘Artisan’ wines which offer an alt-styling and different shades of the region.

With the combination of high-quality Adelaide Hills fruit grown on the family estate and the undoubted talent in the winery, this is a Hills producer on the up and up!

Murdoch Hill Murdoch Hill

Others also liked

Recently viewed

Common Questions

Delivery is free on orders of $199 or more.

For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.

We will dispatch your order the same or next business day.

Estimated delivery transit time varies depending on your location. Please review this page for specific estimates.

No sorry we do not have a store front and pickup is not available.

Yes, no problem. When placing your order select ‘Store at Different Drop and Delivery Later’ as your shipping method or reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order with additional instructions.

We stock three different sized gift boxes (single, three bottle and six), all are available for purchase for a flat rate of $8. They look great and make an awesome impression.

To add a gift box to your order, simply add at checkout. The special requests box is your friend, please give us as many details of what you are looking for and we will try our best, or get in contact to discuss it with you. 

If you want to bulk order gifts or if you have any trouble please email hello@differentdrop.com or call and we can try and help.

 

Our warehouse is automated so unless you tell us otherwise, we will ship your order. If you would like us to hold your order please reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order and we are happy to store your order for up to 6 months at no charge. You can review our heat policy here.

Yes, of course. We want Different Drop customers to always be getting the best price. You can see our price match policy here.

No, feel free to mix it up! There is no minimum requirement. You can order wines in any quantity or combination, 1 or 50+ bottles.

No, all prices are set at the full discounted dozen rate already.

Most wine retailers list at a single-bottle price and then discount 10–15% when you buy six or twelve. We've taken the opposite approach. Since the overwhelming majority of our orders are already 6 bottles or more, our list price is set for the case buyer from the start. There's no inflated single-bottle price to discount down from.

What that means for you:

- One price, same for everyone — no minimum to hit to unlock the best rate
- No mixed-six gymnastics to qualify for a discount
- Our single-bottle price is typically at or below a traditional retailer's by-the-dozen rate

Put simply: the box discount is already baked into the price.

**And if you find it cheaper elsewhere?** Let us know. If the same wine is available at a lower price at another retailer (including at their mixed-six or by-the-dozen rate) we're happy to match it.

If you can't add more wine to your cart it means we are low on stock of that wine. For example, if you are only able to 3 bottles and no more that means we only have 3 bottles left of that wine. If it's a must have, please contact us and we may be able to order more in for you.

Regular Enquiries

Urgent Enquiries

02 8376 8775