Matured for 11 months in French oak 20% new the 2009 Pinot Noir provides a medium ruby-purple color and intense aromas of black cherry and black raspberry with some floral/wilted roses and lavender nuances plus whiffs of forest floor and black truffles. There's stunning purity and nervy intensity on the palate with a high level of racy acidity cutting through the rich medium to full bodied fruit and textured by a medium to firm level of finely grained tannins. The finish is long. Approachable as it may be give this wine another year in bottle and enjoy it 2012 to 2016+.

Steve Green hired Jane Docherty, former assistant winemaker at Felton Road, to make the Carrick wines at his vineyard in Bannockburn. She allows a spontaneous fermentation in her pinot noirs, elevating the schisty tannic spice of this 2009 to line up with the bright red fruit and rose scents. It’s brisk, firm and refreshing, a pinot noir to serve with braised wild duck.

This is a fairly big, muscular Pinot Noir, with beefy black-cherry fruit and oaky overtones of brown sugar. Give it a year or more to smooth out, because the long, intense finish filled with berry fruit shows tremendous promise. Drink 2013–2020.