2025 William Downie Cathedral Pinot Noir

Juicy, spicy natural Pinot from Victorian cooler-climes, c/o the guiding hands of Bill Downie.

Price:
Sale price$29.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship, only 3 units left
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Description

William Downie is a bonafide star of the Gippsland wine movement, having garnered his expertise from Burgundy and Australian icons like Bass Phillips and De Bortoli.

The 2025 Cathedral is Downie’s best yet made by a seriously good vintage and a smart blend of sites that came together just right.

King Valley leads the charge (70%), backed by parcels from the Yarra (20%) and Upper Goulburn (10%). It’s a darker, more spiced expression this year - plum, black cherry, pomegranate molasses and a flicker of poached pear, all tied together with some gentle grip and savoury spice. Mace, five spice, crushed rock - it’s got more going on than you’d expect for a wine at this price point.

Still, it’s not a brooder. The structure’s there, but it drinks with ease. As always, it’s bottled unfined and unfiltered. Call it serious Pinot for not-so-serious moments. An absolute bargain, this sits somewhere between glou-glou and serious sipper.

91 points
"Easy access style, yet with some sophisticated restraint and coolness to. An attractive drink and a bargain for the bucks."
- Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

91 points - "Soft and juicy with quite a bit of sweet, pretty red berry fruitiness. Sweet spice too, a touch of alpine herbs. A little grip to texture, a salty, blood orange finish. Easy access style, yet with some sophisticated restraint and coolness to. An attractive drink and a bargain for the bucks." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

Customer Reviews

The 2025 season was one of the best we have seen in recent memory. The season got off to a very early start with dry but not hot conditions through until harvest. Yields were good but not excessive and grapes ripened very well without high sugar levels. The wines from 2025 are all deep in colour, complex and very well structured. This year’s Cathedral is approximately 70% King Valley, 20% Yarra Valley and 10% Upper Goulburn. The wine smells of dark plums, black cherry, blackcurrant and pomegranate molasses as well as poached pears, mace and five spice. It is dense and complex with a very well structured palate that also shows lots of red and dark berry fruits and a savoury minerality. This is very likely the best version of Cathedral we made.

Price Bracket $30 or Less
Type Red
Body Light Bodied
Variety Pinot Noir
Country Australia
Region King Valley
Australian State VIC
Feature Natural/Lo-Fi
Reviewed By The Wine Front
Critic Score 91
Size 750ml
Vintage 2025
Closure Screw Cap

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