By Farr Farrside Pinot Noir 2024
The darker, firmer sibling in the By Farr range, a Pinot built on structure and savoury depth rather than perfume alone. The nose is brooding and layered: black cherry and red plum over dried herbs, warm spice, earth and a cool mineral edge that only sharpens with air. This is not a wine that gives everything at once; it opens slowly, rewarding a decant.
On the palate it is medium-bodied but tightly wound. Red and black fruit carried on a firm, savoury frame, with fine-grained tannins, real mineral depth and a line of acidity that keeps the weight in check. Oak is measured, felt as structure rather than flavour. The balance is the point: firm yet delicate, dense yet lifted, with a long, textural finish that closes on dark fruit, earthy spice and a savoury mineral persistence.
Farrside is a single north-east-facing site in Geelong's Moorabool Valley, limestone under black volcanic soil, cooler and darker than the neighbouring Sangreal 300 metres away, which pushes harvest later and gives the wine its firmer, more savoury cast. By Farr, established by Gary Farr in 1994 and now led by Nick Farr, farms it to a terroir-first philosophy: minimal intervention, whole-bunch fermentation, native yeasts, and oak that supports rather than shapes. It sits among the most structured and age-worthy expressions in the range.
Slow cooked Lamb Ragout or Eye fillet with mushroom sauce.
Aroma of black cherry, red plum, dried herbs, spice, earth and subtle mineral notes.
With bottle age the wine still shows the hallmarks of Farrside’s vineyard character but with great finesse and an opulent masculinity yet finer tannins structure to complete the wine. Each vintage of Farrside Pinot Noir exhibits more masculinity, structure and savoury components. While deep meaty, spicy and mineral flavours also continue to evolve. A balanced array of red and black fruits, Farrside Pinot Noir is fresh and edgy with bucket loads of character. This is a firm yet delicate wine with a long-textured finish.
