We Know Pinot Pack

Finding good-value Pinot Noir made by artisan producers is a difficult thing.

Pinot's delicate nature means it needs to be nursed to bottle. That extra care takes time and money, hence the soaring price of the best examples in the country. We've done the hunting for you to get you six of the best value examples that we could find at a very good price. A no-brainer pack for the Pinotphiles out there.

• 2025 Two Tonne Tasmania TMV Pinot Noir
• 2025 Swinging Bridge M.A.W. Pinot Noir
• 2025 Hoddles Creek Estate Pinot Noir
• 2024 Hughes & Hughes Pinot Noir
• 2024 Les Fruits Collines Pinot Noir
• 2025 Moorooduc Devil Bend Creek Pinot Noir

2025 Two Tonne Tasmania TMV Pinot Noir

This is the wine that started it all for Ricky Evans, and after 14 vintages, it remains the definitive snapshot of the Tamar Valley. The TMV is a clever puzzle of fruit sourced from three distinct areas of the valley - a mix of estate blocks and long-term leased sites that Ricky knows inside out.

The 2025 season was another warm one, forcing an early start to the harvest. Because sugars were moving fast, Ricky focused on picking for freshness, being light-handed in the winery to avoid over-extraction. He stayed cautious with the whole-bunch component, settling on a 10% inclusion across the final blend to add just enough spice and aromatic lift without overshadowing the fruit.

The result is a classic, pretty Pinot that captures the Tamar wonderfully. It’s loaded with bright red berries - think raspberry and wild strawberry - wrapped in fine, chalky tannins. Spending 11 months in oak (only 10% new) has kept the palate juicy and vibrant. It’s a fragrant, effortless Pinot that’s made for immediate enjoyment, though it has enough structure to keep things interesting. As always with Two Tonne, it’s dangerously drinkable and stocks never last long.

2025 Swinging Bridge M.A.W. Pinot Noir

Excluding his terrible banter, Pinot Noir might just be Tom Ward’s great passion. The M.A.W. - named for his father, Mark Andrew Ward - is where he introduces drinkers to his vision for Orange Pinot. It’s not about grand gestures or cellar swagger, but rather about charm, clarity and drinkability.

The 2025 vintage gives exactly that. It's fully destemmed and fermented as whole berries and sees mostly older oak - all designed to capture the energy and vibrancy of the vintage. Bright red cherries, raspberries and a flicker of spice leap from the glass, the palate supple and juicy with just enough savoury grip to keep things interesting. It’s light on its feet, and certainly shaped for early enjoyment.

Think of M.A.W. as your entry point: a window into the style and potential of Orange Pinot, without the wait or the price tag of Tom’s single-vineyard bottlings. A youthful expression that's ready to rip, and it's absolutely delicious.

2025 Hoddles Creek Estate Pinot Noir

Hunting for good, affordable Pinot Noir in this country usually feels like a losing battle, but Franco D’Anna has been single-handedly solving that problem for years. Operating out of Hoddles Creek, he routinely delivers estate-grown gear that completely reshapes what we expect from entry-level pricing.

The fast, ultra-early 2025 season turned out a slightly more robust and bouncy iteration than the usual taut style, but the vineyard's cool-climate identity is still front and centre. It opens with an unforced bouquet of hand-harvested wild berries, blood orange rind, and a subtle undercurrent of sarsaparilla and graphite.

Franco left the fruit un-crushed in the ferments, which pays off beautifully in the texture. Rather than simple, sugary juice, you get a fleshy mid-palate driven by grainy, persistent tannins and a lovely line of natural crunch. It finishes with a great bit of structural chew that suggests it will look even better with a year in the dark.

When it comes to Pinot Noir, this is the ultimate case-buy no-brainer.

93 points
"It has both composure and drinkability writ large, though the fineness of the tannin and the dryness of the finish lend it, too, a seriousness... It’s pretty much impeccable all over."
- Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

2024 Hughes & Hughes Pinot Noir

As the demand for fruit in Tasmania increases, so too are the prices. The top value Pinot Noirs are becoming rare as hens' teeth, but here's one that you can fill your boots with if you want a stylish Tassie Pinot that won't bust the bank.

This is fruit from the Coal River, Derwent and Tamar Valleys fermented in small batches in a bunch of different ways. Some whole bunch, some whole berry, lots of experimenting from winemaker Jonathan Hughes to see what works, then finally a blend of the best parts.

It's a great drink and remarkable value, all things considered. There just aren't many Pinots at this price from the Apple Isle that will deliver the interest and satisfaction of the Hughes & Hughes.

2024 Les Fruits Collines Pinot Noir

This is Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir set to smashable mode. Tim Stock combined fruit from two distinct sites - Ironbank and high-altitude Ashton - to create a red that prioritises texture and immediate drinkability. It’s a "no-frills" expression, fermented with just a bit of foot-stomping and aged for ten months in seasoned hogsheads.

The wine leads with a savoury, earthy profile rather than simple fruit sweetness. The Ashton component lightens the frame, bringing a lifted rose-petal perfume that opens up as the wine warms, while the Ironbank fruit provides a darker, spicier core. It’s medium-bodied and rich, but a bright line of acidity keeps it fresh and energetic.

At its heart, this is a seriously lovable, "slurpable" Pinot. Honestly, it's one of the best buys for Pinot we've seen in the Hills for a while.

2025 Moorooduc Devil Bend Creek Pinot Noir

Devil Bend Creek is the kind of Pinot that makes you wonder why more entry-level wines don’t taste this good. It’s always been Moorooduc’s most approachable red - easy to drink, easy to like, but still thoughtfully made.

The fruit comes from across the Peninsula, including estate and trusted grower sites, and it’s treated with the same low-intervention mindset as the top wines: wild yeast, older oak, no fining or filtering. The result is a bright, juicy Pinot that still carries a bit of that savoury, earthy Mornington charm.

The 2025 vintage has all the hallmarks - soft red fruits, a flicker of spice, and enough structure to keep things interesting without ever feeling heavy. It’s a no-fuss, weeknight-friendly Pinot that still wears the Moorooduc signature. If you’re new to the label, this is a great place to start.