The Pinot Noir Explorers Box

This beautifully expressive Yarra Valley Pinot Noir is silky, fragrant, and full of life. Aromas of perfumed red cherries, ripe blueberries, and a hint of Campari-like spice lead into a layered, complex palate. Expect a lovely earthiness, with notes of white mushrooms, truffle, and savoury spice, balanced by mocha, cocoa, and a forest floor depth. The fine tannins and bright acidity give it structure and elegance, while the 40% whole-bunch fermentation adds a touch of lift and freshness. This is seriously classy Pinot, with depth, finesse, and an irresistible drinkability. The only issue? There’s never enough of it!

Founded in 1997, Giant Steps has become one of Australia’s most exciting Pinot Noir producers, crafting wines that express the unique terroirs of the Yarra Valley. The winery takes a minimal intervention approach, using hand-picked fruit, indigenous yeasts, and gravity-flow winemaking to ensure the purest expression of site, vintage, and variety. This Pinot Noir is a blend of estate vineyards—Sexton, Applejack, and Tarraford—each contributing its own distinct personality. Aged for eight months in French oak (only 10% new), it offers balance, vibrancy, and serious sophistication. If you love elegant, old-world style Pinot with a modern Australian twist, this is one for you.

This silky, vibrant Pinot Noir is brimming with fresh red cherry and raspberry fruit, laced with delicate violet and subtle spice notes. Bright and expressive, it has velvety tannins that wrap around the palate, while a lively acidity keeps everything beautifully balanced. The finish is juicy, refined, and lingering, making this a classic, approachable expression of Burgundy Pinot Noir.

Domaine du Château Philippe le Hardi, formerly Château de Santenay, is a historic estate with deep roots in Burgundy’s Côte d’Or and Côte Chalonnaise. Named after Philip the Bold, the first Duke of Burgundy, the domaine owns 106 hectares of sustainably farmed vineyards, with vines in Santenay, Mercurey, Saint-Aubin, and even Grand Cru Clos de Vougeot. Aged for 10 months (20% in French oak, 80% in stainless steel), this Pinot Noir is an elegant, food-friendly wine that punches well above its weight. This refined and versatile Pinot Noir is a great match for roast chicken, duck, mushroom risotto, or soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert. Its fresh acidity and fine tannins also make it ideal for pairing with grilled salmon, charcuterie, or a simple roast pork dish.

This elegant, perfumed Pinot Nero has a vibrant nose of red cherries, wild strawberries, and violets, with hints of spice and earthiness. The palate is silky yet structured, with ripe yet present tannins that frame the juicy fruit, giving the wine both depth and finesse. Aged in traditional vats for six months, it maintains a sense of purity and freshness, balanced by a fine acidity and a long, graceful finish. Francesca Seralvo calls this wine "the whole hill in a bottle", and it certainly delivers a taste of Oltrepò Pavese’s finest Pinot Noir vineyards.

Tenuta Mazzolino is one of the most exciting producers in Oltrepo Pavese, a region often referred to as Italy’s hidden Burgundy. Located in Lombardy, in the north of Italy, just south of Milan, Oltrepo Pavese is a historic wine-growing area best known for its Pinot Nero, Chardonnay, and sparkling wines. The estate, which has been in the Seralvo family since the 1970s, sits on a 20-hectare amphitheatre of organically farmed vineyards, with soils that mirror those of Barbaresco. Their high-density, low-yield vines, grown at 300-350 metres above sea level, benefit from cool Apennine breezes, preserving the grape’s aromatic intensity and natural acidity. This Pinot Nero is a class act, showcasing the finesse and complexity of this historic estate, and is a must-try for lovers of elegant, terroir-driven reds.

A bright and expressive Mercurey with juicy red fruits at the core. Notes of cherry and cranberry are layered with hints of anise, dried leaves and a subtle earthy spice. The palate is fresh and silky, with soft tannins and a gently tapering finish. Mercurey offers incredible value for red Burgundy, with more depth and structure than many Côte Chalonnaise neighbours, yet without the steep prices of the Côte d'Or.

Domaine Philippe Milan et Fils is based in Chassey-le-Camp, a small village tucked between Santenay and Rully in the Côte Chalonnaise. The estate was founded in the 1950s by Karl-Philippe Milan’s grandfather and today spans 11 hectares, producing both red and white wines with a focus on purity and fruit clarity. Working with minimal intervention in the vineyard and little to no new oak in the cellar, Karl-Philippe champions a style that’s clean, expressive, and honest to its roots. While most of the wines are snapped up in France, a small portion makes it to export - lucky for us.