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Description
Hunting for good, affordable Pinot Noir in this country usually feels like a losing battle, but Franco D’Anna has been single-handedly solving that problem for years. Operating out of Hoddles Creek, he routinely delivers estate-grown gear that completely reshapes what we expect from entry-level pricing.
The fast, ultra-early 2025 season turned out a slightly more robust and bouncy iteration than the usual taut style, but the vineyard's cool-climate identity is still front and centre. It opens with an unforced bouquet of hand-harvested wild berries, blood orange rind, and a subtle undercurrent of sarsaparilla and graphite.
Franco left the fruit un-crushed in the ferments, which pays off beautifully in the texture. Rather than simple, sugary juice, you get a fleshy mid-palate driven by grainy, persistent tannins and a lovely line of natural crunch. It finishes with a great bit of structural chew that suggests it will look even better with a year in the dark.
When it comes to Pinot Noir, this is the ultimate case-buy no-brainer.
93 points
"It has both composure and drinkability writ large, though the fineness of the tannin and the dryness of the finish lend it, too, a seriousness... It’s pretty much impeccable all over."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
| Price Bracket | $30 or Less |
| Type | Red |
| Body | Light Bodied |
| Variety | Pinot Noir |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Yarra Valley |
| Australian State | VIC |
| Reviewed By |
The Wine Front |
| Critic Score |
93 |
| Alcohol | 13% |
| Size | 750ml |
| Vintage | 2025 |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
Hoddles Creek Estate
Winemaker Franco D'Anna - Yarra Valley, VIC Discover Hoddles Creek
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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.
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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.
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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.
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