RIPPON

This offers aromas of violets, blueberries, red and dark cherries, fragrant, freshly cracked black pepper and wet dark stones. Complex, but still tightly wound and reserved. The palate is very concentrated, dense and elegantly poised with such powerful tannin, carrying concentrated blueberry and dark-cherry flavors long. Really taut, fully ripe and mouthwateringly intense pinot noir. Dark cherry-pit freshness to close. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but better in five years. Rating: 99 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Jul 2021)

Seductive, come-hither Pinot Noir that tastes like it's just finished a three-day yoga retreat. I could talk about the dried herb, umami and plum flavors, but that would be neglecting what is important about this wine: its ease of texture and in particular the almost honey-like texture of the tannins. It has relatively delicacy on the palate but it expands, giving a sense of generosity in terms of the space it covers while in your mouth. Starting to drink now – as are many of the 2017s vs the current-release 2019s – this should continue to evolve gracefully until the latter half of the 2020s. The finish is all tea leaf and plum, spice and cedar. And, in the world of Pinot Noir, still relatively well priced. Rating: 94 Rebecca Gibb MW - Vinous.com (Mar 2021)

From a cooler vintage, Rippon's 2017 Mature Vine Pinot Noir is a considerable success. Herbal and floral notes on the nose accent cherry fruit, while the medium-bodied palate is ripe and silky, with a firm core of acidity for structure and a long, slightly stony and austere finish. Drinking range: 2021 - 2030 Rating: 91 Joe Czerwinski, www.robertparker.com (Mar 2020)