2024 Bicknell FC Lance Close Planted Pinot Noir

98 pts
Super high-density Pinot vines planted in the late 80s gifting Dave Bicknell one of his fines Bicknell FC wines to date.

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Sale price$79.00
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Description

This wine is a look at what happens when you push vines to compete. Sourced from the Lance vineyard in St Andrews, this block was planted in 1989 at a serious density - 8,300 vines per hectare. For context, that is incredibly tight spacing, maybe the closest plantings in the country at the time, forcing the roots to dig deep and work hard, which generally translates to small berries and concentrated flavour.

The winemaking is tailored to capture that intensity without masking it. Dave opted for 100% whole berries here, skipping the whole bunches to focus purely on the fruit profile. It spent two weeks on skins before going into just two barriques for 11 months. With only 48 dozen bottles produced, this is as small-batch as it gets.

It is a wine with real presence. The high-density planting delivers a natural structure and depth that sets it apart from the standard bottlings. It is savoury, focussed and has a drive to it that speaks to the pedigree of the site. It's a special wine from a special site in the warmer part of the Yarra.

98 points - "From the Lance vineyard, planted to 8300 vines/ha in 1989; a vineyard that produced some of the Yarra's most coveted pinots in the 1980s. A light, very bright crimson red. Fragrant and even more pure fruited than the excellent Applecross pinot off the same vineyard. Aromas of alpine strawberries, redcurrants, bergamot and subtle floral notes precede the palate, which is simultaneously concentrated and light on its feet at the same time. Beautifully delineated and structured on the palate. This seriously good wine will open up and blossom over the next six to eight years at least." - Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points - "From the 1989 plantings of Mv6 Pinot Noir, growing at a density of 8,300 plants/hectare. 48 dozen made. There’s a growl to this Pinot Noir. It’s complex, and tannic, and deep and a touch surly, though it finishes full of running. Violets soaked in the juice of black cherries, sprigs of saltbush dragged through, cedarwood, smoked meats, gravel, twiggy herb notes and dark forest floor characters. It’s tannic but not at the expense of the general flow, though it’s a close-run thing. It needs a bit of time. And it’s excellent." - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

95 points - "The 2024 Lance Close Planted Pinot Noir hails from the Lance vineyard in St. Andrews in the Yarra Valley. MV6 clone was closely planted to 8,300 vines per hectare in 1989. On the nose, the oak is more evident here than in the Applecross Pinot Noir from the same vintage, yet the fruit here wears it with ease, rising up above it on the palate. Profoundly pretty, pure and elegant, this is a wine of ethereal grace and yet power. I like it so much, for different reasons than the Applecross—a wine for each mood. This is awesome. 12.7% alcohol, sealed under screw cap." - Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)

From the 1989 Mv6 block with 8,300 plants/hectare and cropped at 6.5 t/Ha. Hand picked on the 19th of February with 100% whole berries sorted to fermenter. After two weeks fermenting on skins it was pressed to two 225 Lt barriques where it completed malo and rested on fine lees for 11 months prior to blending and bottling in late February 2025. 48 dozen bottles made.

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type Red
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Pinot Noir
Country Australia
Region Yarra Valley
Australian State VIC
Feature High Score
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
Critic Score 98
Size 750ml
Vintage 2024
Closure Screw Cap

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