There’s something about Ashton Hills pinots that I routinely find very appealing. The wines are honest and spicy and full of juicy acidity, which suits me down to the ground. There’s often, too, a slight haziness to the colour - which annoys some, but appeals to me. I like the artisanal feel of it. I also love that in stating the vineyard yield for this wine estate owner Stephen George has the measurement of kilos per vine (in this case, two) rather than the far more misleading, but common, measurement of tonnes per acre/hectare.
This 2007 is a rage of scent. It’s spicy, cherried, sour and sweet, the flavour strong but the weight light. It was matured in second and third use French oak for 12 months, and there is no overt oak flavour - though no doubt the oak has contributed to the wine’s spiciness. It flourishes through a tangy finish and had me begging for more. Super drinking and super recognisable as Ashton Hills. Rated : 93 Points Alcohol : 14% Closure : Screwcap Drink : 2009-2015 Campbell Mattinson; The Wine Front
Stephen George wears three winemaker hats: one for Ashton Hills, drawing upon a 3.5-ha estate vineyard high in the Adelaide Hills; one for Galah Wines; and one for Wendouree. It would be hard to imagine three wineries with more diverse styles, from the elegance and finesse of Ashton Hills to the awesome power of Wendouree. James Halliday Wine Companion 2008