Angullong has released two new wines, including the inaugural 2024 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Pinot Noir ($30), which partners with one of their most popular wines, the 2023 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Barbera ($30).
The new Pinot Noir is the winery’s first. “Pinot Noir is certainly finding its feet in our cooler region of Orange,” says owner and vigneron Ben Crossing.
“Consumer demand guided our decision to produce Pinot Noir. We subsequently planted a range of clones with the objective of building complexity in the vineyard.
“The grapes were picked with a selective harvester, cold soaked, and plunged daily prior to being pressed and aged in French oak puncheons. We were aiming for an approachable, consumer-friendly Pinot Noir that offers generosity at a value-based price point.”
The new Pinot Noir joins Angullong’s rich stable of Mediterranean varieties. Its new companion is the 2023 Angullong Fossil Hill Barbera. “This is our twentieth vintage of Barbera, with the vines planted in 1999. We are growing in confidence with this variety and believe that this vintage, along with the past few, are our best. The future looks bright.”
The Barbera was fermented in open fermenters, with 20 per cent left as whole berries and pumped over twice daily to enhance colour and flavour. Maturation took place in French oak puncheons to add complexity while complementing the varietal fruit characters.
“As the vineyard matures and our winemaking becomes more attuned to the fruit, we are seeing a lift in quality. Under the guidance of winemaker Jeff Byrne, the wines have taken a huge leap forward, with fresh varietal fruit being the showcase. Jeff has a deft hand in letting the fruit take the limelight, rather than winemaking artefacts.”
The Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ range aims to present well-made, varietally diverse, and consistent wines. The name reflects the abundance of fossils found in Angullong’s high-elevation vineyards, as well as in the limestone caves beneath the property. These Ordovician sea-shell fossils speak to the region’s ancient history as a seabed some 450 million years ago.
2024 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Pinot Noir (Orange Region, NSW): $30
2023 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Barbera (Orange Region, NSW): $30
Distribution: The Angullong range of wines is distributed in NSW and QLD by Fisher Fine Wines. The wines are also available directly from the Cellar Door and via angullong.com.au.
For further information, interviews and images please contact:
David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications: 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au
Ben Crossing, General Manager at Angullong Wines: 0428 586 802 or ben@angullong.com.au
Angullong Wines is located on the picturesque foothills of Orange’s Mount Canobolas in Wiradjuri country. The property has been in the Crossing family since 1950 and has been run as a successful sheep and cattle station prior to diversifying into grape growing and winemaking in 1998. In 2009 Angullong opened their cellar door in the historic bluestone stables in the village of Millthorpe. The wines are made in Orange by Jeff Byrne.