"From Gippsland and, by the label, Issan Vineyard, a site winemaker Shashi Singh is into for its high density planting and organic farming. Avani is one of those very important Victorian wineries, from where I sit, making beautiful wines (by beautiful people). Always a treat to revisit. Avani is based in Mornington Peninsula, of course.

This is a cool and restrained pinot noir, lithe and shapely, fine boned, a web of lacy, silty tannin lends structure and the wine sits comfortable in its dark cherry, black olive, faintly game meat-meets-rosemary savouriness with a little sweet. smoky earth character in the mix for good measure. Understated and elegant but with plenty going on. A little spread in texture gives the wine a moreish feel. It feels fancy too, in that distinct way that great wines of the world hold themselves. Very beautiful, is the message."

96 Points - Mike Bennie, The Wine Front