Patiently waiting and eagerly anticipating these two new single-vineyard releases from Château Acid. The 2021 Château Acid ‘Orchard’ Pinot Noir and 2021 ‘Bull Swamp’ Syrah are the two new cuvées made with fruit grown by Château Acid in the Baw Baw Shire in West Gippsland, Victoria. Baw Baw has seen prestigious releases recently from cult winemakers Bill Downie and Patrick Sullivan and is pretty hot territory right now.

These wines have both been some time in the making and are more serious releases from Château Acid. The wines are softer but also more dense. The ‘Orchard’ Pinot Noir is light and pretty but also juicy and savoury. There’s sweet red fruits up top but with some weight in the middle and feint earthiness rolling off the back. More of a wine to impress than a bottle to crush. Sip it slow and settle in.