2025 Mulline Sutherlands Creek Pinot Noir

Sutherlands Creek is the warmest site in the Mulline Pinot lineup, but the soil - fragmented granite over grey loam - produces the lightest wine of the bunch. Winemaker Ben Mullen attributes this paradox entirely to the granite, which trades the region's typical weight for high-toned fragrance and a finer skeleton.

The 2025 release features a 30% whole-bunch component and spent eight months in French oak. Mullen uses the Abel clone here (famed for its supposed origins from DRC), which adds a savoury, structural edge to the bright red fruit. It’s a site that rewards Ben’s "feet on the ground" approach to value, offering the kind of complexity usually reserved for much more expensive labels.

Philip Rich awarded it 97 points, noting it is "beautifully fragrant from the get-go." While the 2024 was more wound upp, this vintage is open and silky, balancing brambly spice with a gentle, mouth-filling texture. It is a poised, mineral-driven Pinot that prioritises elegance over power.

97 points
"The palate is gently mouth-filling with silky tannins that make it a pleasure to drink now but will also ensure it continues to become more complex over the next five to seven years."
- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)