Riposte ‘The Sabre’ Pinot Noir 2025, Adelaide Hills

Riposte ‘The Sabre’ Pinot Noir 2025, Adelaide Hills

Walk into any restaurant with this on the list and you know exactly what to do; start with a glass, then commit to the bottle.

Bright, elegant and wonderfully pure, this is classic Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir. The nose shows vibrant red cherry and wild strawberry, lifted by delicate florals and a gentle savoury earthiness. There’s no heavy oak or intrusive spice here, just clean and expressive red fruit delivered with clarity and finesse.

The palate is silky and refined, with fine tannins and a beautifully composed structure. Juicy red fruits glide effortlessly across the mid-palate, supported by fresh acidity that keeps everything lively and precise. What makes this wine so compelling is the purity and ease; it’s light on its feet, yet quietly persistent, finishing fresh, balanced and dangerously drinkable.

Vino Masters Score: 95 / 100
★★★★★  Joyful, expressive and full of charm, this is Riposte Pinot at its most honest; pretty, poised and effortlessly enjoyable.

Viticulture

2025 was a happier year for grape growers with good average crops and low disease pressure from a warm dry spring. Harvest was earlier than 2024, from 21st February to 4th March, with a slightly warmer ripening period giving the fruit excellent colour and flavour. As usual the Sabre is multiclonal with MV6, D4V2, 777,114,115 and D5V12 all contributing complexity.

Winemaking

The clones were kept separate where possible, and most fermentations consisted of whole berries with 25% of whole bunches on top. These fermentations were started cold at 12-13º C and allowed to peak at over 30º, being pumped over twice a day. Each batch was pressed separately and run to French oak barrels, 20% new. After malolactic fermentation, our usual rigorous barrel selection meant that only the best 80% were included in the final Sabre blend.