2025 Gembrook Hill J.K.M. Pinot Noir

95 pts 97 pts
Another beguiling chapter in the Gembrook Hill story - a gorgeously complex and flavourful Pinot.

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Sale price$120.00
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In stock, ready to ship
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Description

The J.K.M. Pinot is Gembrook Hill’s "winemaker’s wine" - a more expressive, detailed sibling to the estate flagship. While the IJM Pinot was created as a vinous memorial to Andrew’s father, Ian, the J.K.M. is dedicated to his mother, June, and it's designed to capture a bit more of her natural exuberance. If the IJM is a "vigneron’s wine" (all about pure site), this is where Andrew Marks gets to play.

The 2025 release is the boldest version of this wine yet. It’s built entirely from 100% whole-bunch fermented MV6 fruit - a relatively new planting for the estate that brings a depth and tannin profile they haven’t seen in the older vines. In a warm, generous year like 2025, that whole-bunch intensity has translated into an unapologetically aromatic Pinot. It’s all about crunchy red forest berries, blood orange, and a punchy, savoury undergrowth character.

Because 2025 was such a generous season, this J.K.M. has a serious amount of power and "grab" on the palate. It’s an energetic, high-intensity wine that feels more modern than the traditional Gembrook style, but it still carries that essential cool-climate snap. Only two barrels were made - 50% of which was new French oak - making this an incredibly rare must-buy for any Pinot devotee who wants to see just how much "swagger" this site can produce.

97 points
"This is one of a compelling set of pinots from Gembrook Hill in '25; it will be fascinating to watch them evolve over the next decade."
- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points
"Oak shows itself here but as a whole this wine is dramatically seductive... It’s not too much but there’s a it of silk to the texture as well. Everything’s in place. Just a bit of extra time and it’ll be absolute roses."
- Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

97 points - "A deep, bright ruby-red. Andrew Marks calls the I.J.M a vigneron's wine and views the J.K.M, with its 100% whole bunches and 50% new oak, as a winemaker's wine. Deeper in colour and more brooding, with aromas of dark raspberry, plum and black tea, yet the palate remains finely detailed and very bright. This is one of a compelling set of pinots from Gembrook Hill in '25; it will be fascinating to watch them evolve over the next decade." - Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points - "Oak shows itself here but as a whole this wine is dramatically seductive. Deep black cherry flavours come splashed with coffee, sweet spice, undergrowth and twiggy herb notes. It’s a wine of both treble and bass, cohesively presented. The whole bunch influence feels both clear and integrated at once; it’s a finely knitted wine. It’s not too much but there’s a it of silk to the texture as well. Everything’s in place. Just a bit of extra time and it’ll be absolute roses." - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

Customer Reviews

Following on from the 2018 inaugural release we are pleased to offer the fifth vintage of the JKM Pinot Noir.

Again more of a winemaker's wine. The intention for this wine is to explore both new viticultural and wine making techniques, while still capturing the essence of the vineyard. The viticultural technique is shoot selection - a refinement of shoot thinning which we have always used in the vineyard. This serves to open up the canopy, reducing disease risk and increasing sunlight into the canopy, while producing more intense fruit. The winemaking technique is the use of whole bunch fermentation from our newest plantings of Pinot which was then matured in both new and old French hogsheads. Two barrels made. 50% new oak. 100% wholebunch.

Price Bracket $101 and Above
Type Red
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Pinot Noir
Country Australia
Region Yarra Valley
Australian State VIC
Feature Cult
High Score
Reviewed By The Wine Front
Halliday Wine Companion
Critic Score 97
Alcohol 13.5%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2025
Closure DIAM Cork

Gembrook Hill

Based in the cool upper reaches of the Yarra Valley, Gembrook Hill is one of the country's most loved producers of Pinot Noir.

Founded in 1983 by Ian and June Marks, Gembrook is one of the most picturesque vineyards in the region. As well as their stunning Pinot Noirs, they produce excellent examples of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and an elegant Blanc de Blanc in certain vintages.

Ian Marks sadly passed away in 2017. His son Andrew now tends the family vineyard and makes the wines, continuing the family legacy for producing outstanding examples of Upper Yarra wine.

Andrew Marks in his family's vineyard Gembrook Hill

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