Region: Macedon Ranges, Victoria, Australia
Variety: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2018
The Wine
From Wilimee’s 1.5-acre granite vineyard at 600 m altitude, this is one of Australia’s most fascinating Pinot Noirs — matured for five years beneath water. After natural fermentation, no fining or filtration, and lunar-timed bottling, the wine was submerged in a 5K Litre tank covered with the local, muddy dam water to age quietly in complete darkness and constant temperature. The underwater environment shields it from oxygen and vibration, preserving pristine fruit while deepening tertiary nuance.
The result is hauntingly beautiful: a Pinot Noir that sits between worlds — bright cherry, wild strawberry and rosehip over fine earthen spice and a faint saline edge. Silken texture meets remarkable tension. There’s a purity and calm energy in the glass that feels almost meditative. This is experimentation elevated to art, from one of Australia’s most thoughtful terroir winemakers.
Cellared Says
Ben Rankin and I made wine together for almost a decade back at Galli Estate where he was head winemaker and I made my Born & Raised wines. He is a lovely fella and a gun winemaker. The work that he and his partner Sal have put into their home vineyard is truly something extraordinary. It’s paying off. The Pinots are structured wines with a real depth of flavour that repays time in bottle, be that above water or under. Also checkout his Chardonnay’s from the home Macedon vineyard, they are fabulous and worthy to be put up again the very highest echelons of Aussie Chardy. Drink now or hold for its quiet evolution.
Wine Reviews
“An extraordinary experiment that’s actually worked — the Pinot emerges deeper, calmer, more complex, showing an uncanny clarity of fruit and a hint of saline minerality. It’s one of the most fascinating Australian wines I’ve tasted this year.” — Max Allen, AFR Magazine, June 2025
“Shows purity of fruit, balance and calmness; a real conversation starter that still feels true to site and variety.” — Young Gun of Wine (feature review, 2025)
Region: Macedon Ranges, Victoria, Australia
Variety: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2018
The Wine
From Wilimee’s 1.5-acre granite vineyard at 600 m altitude, this is one of Australia’s most fascinating Pinot Noirs — matured for five years beneath water. After natural fermentation, no fining or filtration, and lunar-timed bottling, the wine was submerged in a 5K Litre tank covered with the local, muddy dam water to age quietly in complete darkness and constant temperature. The underwater environment shields it from oxygen and vibration, preserving pristine fruit while deepening tertiary nuance.
The result is hauntingly beautiful: a Pinot Noir that sits between worlds — bright cherry, wild strawberry and rosehip over fine earthen spice and a faint saline edge. Silken texture meets remarkable tension. There’s a purity and calm energy in the glass that feels almost meditative. This is experimentation elevated to art, from one of Australia’s most thoughtful terroir winemakers.
Cellared Says
Ben Rankin and I made wine together for almost a decade back at Galli Estate where he was head winemaker and I made my Born & Raised wines. He is a lovely fella and a gun winemaker. The work that he and his partner Sal have put into their home vineyard is truly something extraordinary. It’s paying off. The Pinots are structured wines with a real depth of flavour that repays time in bottle, be that above water or under. Also checkout his Chardonnay’s from the home Macedon vineyard, they are fabulous and worthy to be put up again the very highest echelons of Aussie Chardy. Drink now or hold for its quiet evolution.
Wine Reviews
“An extraordinary experiment that’s actually worked — the Pinot emerges deeper, calmer, more complex, showing an uncanny clarity of fruit and a hint of saline minerality. It’s one of the most fascinating Australian wines I’ve tasted this year.” — Max Allen, AFR Magazine, June 2025
“Shows purity of fruit, balance and calmness; a real conversation starter that still feels true to site and variety.” — Young Gun of Wine (feature review, 2025)
