Cloudsley Twenty Mile Bench Pinot Noir 2019 2019

This pale, garnet-tinged, gracefully evolving Bench pinot noir is appealingly peppery and reductive, with flavours of tart red cherries and berries and savoury dried herbs. I like the judicious and skillful use of oak here, resulting in delicate notes of spice and vanilla adding nuance to the wine’s flavour profile. The delightfully silky, medium-bodied palate is firm, with very fine, slightly drying tannins, and lively acids. Tart fruit linger pleasantly on the faintly bitter finish. Tasted March 2024 and September 2023. Score – 91. (Megha Jandhyala, S.J.D., winealign.com)