Awards, Ratings & Reviews
96 Points — Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion · 2023 Vintage
“Hand picked from a single block of pinot that hasn't seen any herbicides in over 10 years. 50% whole bunches and just a little new oak. A bright crimson ruby red. A superb bouquet of ripe wild strawberry, red cherry, peony and subtle spices. Medium bodied with excellent depth on the elegant, svelte, well-structured and impeccably balanced palate. Very nicely done; a wine that will reward at least another six to eight years in the cellar.”
About This Wine
The vineyard is located on a steep east-facing slope that receives morning sun. Clay loam soils sit above an ancient rocky subsoil, with free-draining conditions that allow for balanced vine growth.
Open canopies and smaller bunch sizes contribute to fruit density, structure, and depth. Several parcels from this site are hand picked and fermented separately with varying whole bunch and whole berry components.
Fermentation is carried out using wild yeast with gentle handling and no pump-overs or plunging to allow true vineyard expression. After three weeks on skins, the wines are pressed individually into older French barriques.
About the Winery
Thousand Candles is a historic estate in the Yarra Valley, located approximately 65 kilometres northeast of Melbourne. The property spans over 1100 acres and includes vineyards, cattle pastures, and native bush.
The estate name “Thousand Candles” originates from a nineteenth-century account describing an Indigenous ceremony observed by a European settler, who likened the raised firesticks to “a thousand candles” illuminating the evening twilight.
Specifications
- Vintage: 2023
- Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
- Region: Yarra Valley / Victoria / Australia
- Fermentation: Wild yeast fermentation with whole bunch and whole berry components
- Maturation: Older French barriques
- Vineyard / Geo info: Steep east-facing slope with clay loam soils over ancient rocky subsoil
- Alcohol: 13%
- Closure: Screw cap
- Drinking Window: 2025–2033
