95 Points - Jane Faulkner
Garagiste is one of Australia's brightest cool-climate producers, created by Barnaby Flanders back in 2006. Crafting an impressive range of small-batch Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Garagiste has a focus on expressing the single-sites and sub-regions of the Peninsula.
The 2025 Garagiste Le Stagiaire Pinot Noir is a blend of Peninsula grapes grown predominantly at Garagiste's Merricks North vineyard (40%), with the balance from Barney's Balnarring, Red Hill and Merricks Grove sites. Opening with lifted floral aromatics, the palate features layers of strawberry, black cherry and raspberry flavours, with an underlying savouriness and touch of spice. A Peninsula Pinot Noir of enormous drink-now appeal, this offers sensational value-for-money at this limited-time discounted price.
"95 Points. The value belies the quality as there’s always a lot of detail to this range, yet it's so approachable. This has the right combo of varietal flavours – the cherries, pips and spice, the squeeze of blood orange and zest, the touch of chinotto, too. Medium bodied, with supple tannins and refreshing acidity. A wine you want to drink on a cold day while staying toasty in front of a fire. $35. 13.5% alc. Drink: 2026 - 2035"- Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion.
"There’s just so much life here. And so much going on. And such tension to the tannin. And such all-round confidence. I know that $35 is not bargain basement for us normal folks but in pinot noir terms, this Mornington Peninsula stunner bats far above its weight. It’s juicy and energetic and tannic and herbal at once, in a cohesive way, and it sings beautifully out through the finish as well. For me, this is a definite buy. $35"- Campbell Mattinson, campbellmattinson.com.
"93+ Points. I believe this is only recently bottled, though I’m used to that. There’s something of a cru Beaujolais character to this wine, which is likely a strange thing to say, though that’s kind of how it presents. 5% new oak. 5% whole bunch. Juicy, red fruits, spice, potpourri, roast peanuts. It’s medium-bodied, plenty of energy here, crisp cool acidity, light emery board tannin, a pop to cherry and red fruits, some cola nut and dried herb, a slight smokiness, with a spicy orange zest finish of excellent length. Very good drinking here. Likely better with a little more time in bottle. Rated: 93+ Points Tasted: Nov25 13.5% alc. $35 Screwcap Drink: 2026 - 2032"- Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.
