By Farr Pinot Noir Irrewarra Vineyard Geelong 2020

From the family-run winery of By Farr in Victoria’s Geelong region comes a singular expression of cool-climate, single-vineyard Pinot Noir. Crafted in tiny quantities, this 2020 release delivers extraordinary depth and balance, and brims with wild red fruit, tantalizing spices, and mineral-driven precision for the BEST price anywhere.

The story of By Farr begins long before 1994, when the Farr family established their small-batch, cool-climate winery in the Moorabool Valley in Victoria’s Geelong region, driven by a minimalist, terror-focused philosophy. Gary Farr spent years prior growing his impressive resume at Australia’s famed Bannockburn Vineyards, several harvests at Burgundy’s iconic Domaine Dujac, Oregon’s Cristom Vineyards, and California’s Central Coast legend of Calera. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were always his top pursuits, and now, alongside his son, winemaker Nick Farr, Gary continues crafting a reputation for elegant wines from unique vineyard sites.

This 2020 Pinot Noir comes from the Irrewarra vineyard – a site planted in 2001 by the Calvert family on a slope overlooking inland lakes and the volcanic plains of Victoria’s Western District. The vines are planted predominantly to Pinot Noir (with a smattering of Chardonnay in the block) and benefit from a cool growing season and mineral-rich soils of clay loams and gravels that help impart definition and freshness. Production is small, and the wine follows By Farr’s low-intervention style, with whole-cluster fermentation and gentle handling.

Pulsing with character and lively energy, the wine offers generous notes of Bing cherries and red currants layered with roasted rhubarb, damp earth, white pepper, and herbal smoky thyme and rosemary elements. The palate is medium-bodied yet vibrant, with silky tannins, bright acidity, and a continuing thread of minerality framed with a subtly oaky finish that’s elegant and never heavy. Grab some of Australia’s best from one of the greatest cool-climate Pinot regions in the world for a stellar price, and see what this Aussie all-star is all about!

PAIRING IDEAS: Pair this wine with a hearty tortellini and Italian sausage soup finished with fried sage and shaved parmesan – the Pinot’s bright acidity and earthy red-fruit notes cut through the richness while echoing the savory herbs and spice. Fall dreams in a meal.