Bindi 'Dhillion Accidental Red' Merlot Shiraz 2024
Wines taste best when shared with friends!
Bindi is one of the great pinot noir producers of Australia and has for some time cemented itself as the greatest of the Macedon Ranges wineries. In more recent times Michael Dhillion has expanded beyond the home vineyard, sourcing quality fruit from nearby sites and Southern Heathcote to build out quality wines under the 'Dhillion' and 'Pyrette' labels.
"The Bindi farm spans 170ha but only 7ha is planted to vines. This simple fact is an insight into the care and respect the Dhillon family has for its land, its heritage and its future. There are only 2 varieties planted (pinot noir and chardonnay) on the home vineyard, both long-established for their stellar quality. Bindi is without question among a select few at the top echelon of Australian wine and essentially has been ever since its '88 plantings first hit their straps. While quality is the uniting factor across the entire range, Block 5 pinot noir remains the resounding jewel in Bindi's crown. Of genuine excitement is the addition of high-density pinot noir (11,300 vines/ha, planted in ’14 and ’16), which is destined to add yet more lustre." Halliday Wine Companion
"The Accidental Red came about in 2022 by…..unforeseen opportunity…..by accident! The
Merlot being pressed for Rosé had too much juice remaining to discard to compost and
Shiraz pressings had too much colour for Rosé so in they went together. In 2023 we
decided to make the Accidental Red deliberately and to make it better. And we have done
the same again in 2024! Merlot berries are fermented with pressed out Shiraz juice, so in
effect there was half the amount of the usual skins for the wine volume. This year we added 5% Malbec fruit to the blend. A relatively quick wild yeast fermentation (limiting the time on skins) then then into barrel for malolactic and six months maturing through the winter.
Simple. This wine is from premium Macedon Ranges fruit yet comes in as a bright, chillable, quaffable, deliberately inexpensive fun wine. It’s red cherry fruity and gently juicy with spice and earth giving added layers. The palate is supple in a mid-weight Pinot-like way with silky, fine, pippy tannins on the lingering finish." Michael Dhillion
A good read from the Halliday team (below). An Incredibly pretty and fragnant wine that can be consumed immiediately.
"The back label states this is made from merlot berries co-fermented with shiraz juice then aged in barrel. It’s come out juicy and plummy with snips of fresh herbs, wood smoke and warm spices. It’s mid-weighted at best, the tannins plush, soft and giving, the acidity cleansing and, all up, a delicious drink-now red that doesn’t need a minute more in bottle." 91pts | Jane Faulkner | Halliday Wine Companion
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