Oberlin Pinot Noir

Sidewood Oberlin Pinot Noir draws from just nine short rows of Oberlin clone Pinot Noir, grown on the estate Mappinga Road vineyard at Oakbank in the Adelaide Hills.

Oberlin is a rare, finicky and low yielding clone of Pinot Noir. Only around 60 hectares remains in France, and Sidewood has what is perhaps the only planting in Australia.

The fruit is handpicked and wild yeast fermented with all the grapes retained as whole bunches. After extended maceration on skins, the wine is aged in French oak barrels. Only a small proportion of the oak is new.

Most of the parcels go towards the Estate Pinot Noir blend, but tiny amounts are set aside for the Oberlin label.

Red purple, Sidewood Oberlin Pinot Noir has dark fruit flavours with mineral tannins, earthy complexity and a fine line of acidity. Cellaring potential is seven years.