“The type of taut, edgy Pinot Noir the Adelaide Hills has struggled to capture, despite the region being heavily planted to the variety. This is a model of winemaking restraint, allowing the vineyard to shine, with fleshy cherry and hint of tart mandarin providing comfort, though its firm acidity and stalky grip ensures good structure and svelte line.”
— Decanter, Jul 2021

“Stylistically, this is a wine that has moved from bold and dry red-esque, to lean and underdone and now with the Shaw + Smith Pinot Noir 2019 it has finally hit Goldilocks mode (ie just right). Crucially, this is largely Lenswood fruit, sourced from the S + S vineyard planted in 1999. From the first aromatic flicker of gentle red fruit this seems right. It’s vinous, varietal and well balanced, all rhubarb, redcurranf and then a flicker of vanilla oak before plenty of acidity. Lithe. Beautifully formed. Correct acidity. It’s comfortably still Hills Pinot, complete with the mid palate fruit exuberance. And it all makes for a genuinely enjoyable wine that I could easily finish a bottle of.”
— Australian Wine Review, Jul 2020