Hoddles Creek Estate is the D'Anna family winery in the Upper Yarra Valley, Victoria, with estate vineyards planted from 1997 in the cool, high country around Hoddles Creek. The 1er is a flagship Pinot Noir released only in vintages deemed outstanding and built from the estate's best blocks. The Upper Yarra's elevation, grey clay-loam over clay soils and cool climate deliver slow ripening and the twiggy, spicy, herb-and-forest-floor character that marks fine cool-climate Pinot. Vines are hand-tended with meticulous canopy and crop management. The 2024 release already shows well young but is structured to last, in the restrained, ageworthy style the estate is known for.

Fruit was hand-picked from selected estate parcels, with whole-bunch material contributing the twig, spice and herb notes evident in the wine. Small-batch fermentation and gentle extraction produced pure, satiny red and black cherry flavour and intricate, gently smoky tannin. The wine was matured in French oak, with cedarwood oak playing a noticeable but positive supporting role, the barrels chosen carefully so structure never overwhelms the fruit. Only the finest barrels were selected for the 1er bottling, giving a young wine that is already expressive yet built to improve with cellaring.