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.
"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.
