John Kosovich Pinot Noir 2022

Ray Jordan Accolade

Kosovich sources this from down at Pemberton where the guys planted a vineyard years ago. This is an excellent example of what they are doing. Aromas of bright red fruit showing a raspberry and light cherry combination. Bright crimson colour leads into a light bodied palate. But this has the firm core of serious pinot, a crisp fine acidity and excellent fruit concentration. Impressive wine and one of the best from John Kosovich.

Ray Jordan Wine Review – 94 Points

Tasting Notes

🔹 Appearance – Light to medium ruby with brilliant clarity.

🔹 Aroma – A bouquet of spice, clove, red cherries, and subtle oak, with hints of dried herbs.

🔹 Palate – A savoury, medium body, structured style with twiggy herbs, earthiness, and a dry, persistent finish.

🔹 Finish – Long and lingering, with tannins providing a fine yet firm backbone for ageing.

Winemaking

🔹 Hand-harvested – Carefully picked fruit from Pemberton’s cool-climate vineyard.

🔹 Whole-bunch – Inclusion for added spice, texture, and tannin structure.

🔹 Minimal – Intervention to preserve the natural character of the fruit.

🔹 Oak-aged – Matured in seasoned French oak for subtle texture and integration.

Serving Temperature & Best Enjoyment

🔹 Ideal – 14–16°C

🔹 Why – Enhances Pinot Noir’s delicate balance; too warm, and alcohol dominates; too cold, and elegance is muted.

🔹 How –

• If stored at room temperature (above 20°C), chill in the fridge for 20–30 minutes.
• If stored in the fridge, let it sit out for 15 minutes before pouring.

🔹 Result – At 14–16°C, spice, earthiness, and red fruit shine with perfect balance.

Perfect Pairings

🔹 Grilled meats – Complements lamb, roast duck, and slow-cooked pork.

🔹 Mushrooms – Ideal with mushroom risotto, truffle pasta, or roasted root vegetables.

🔹 Cheese – Pairs beautifully with Brie, Camembert, or washed-rind cheeses.

FAQ: Understanding Wine Terms ❓

🔹 Whole-Bunch Fermentation – Instead of destemming the grapes, the whole bunch (including stems) is fermented. This can add structure, tannins, and savoury, herbal notes to the wine.

🔹 Tannins – The natural compounds from grape skins, seeds, and stems that give wine a drying, slightly bitter sensation. In this Pinot Noir, they provide structure and help with ageing.

🔹 Minimal Intervention – A winemaking approach where little is done to manipulate the wine, allowing the natural fruit expression to shine.

🔹 Seasoned Oak – Oak barrels that have been used before, softening the amount of wood influence in the wine, adding subtle complexity without overpowering fruit flavours.

🔹 Persistent Finish – How long the flavours of a wine linger after swallowing. A long finish, like in this Pinot Noir, is a sign of quality and depth.

🔹 Cool-Climate Wine – Grapes grown in cooler regions like Pemberton tend to have higher acidity, fresher flavours, and more elegance compared to warm-climate wines.