Product Description
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Rouleur, Regional, Pinot Noir, 2024, Yarra Valley, Australia
Producer Profile
Matt East grew up in the Yarra Valley and worked alongside his father in the family vineyard from a young age. He dedicated 10 years to grape growing with a focus on Pinot Noir and made wine in the shed growing up. He further honed his skills in local wineries during vintage and eventually left the Yarra Valley to study, travel and pursue a career in the broader wine industry.
As a keen cyclist all his life, Matt’s love affair with the bike matches his passion for making wine from exceptional sites across the Yarra Valley and elevated, alpine climbs of the Whitlands High Plateau. Rouleur (noun – Roller) was inspired by vineyards Matt discovered while riding – chance meetings with growers and local people that helped turn dreams into reality.
All Rouleur fruit is handpicked and sorted. White grapes are largely pressed as whole bunches, to new and old larger format oak. Variety dependent, Matt opts for subtle use of skin contact during fermentation, particularly with his Pinot Gris, a standout wine in the range. The Rouleur reds are mostly fermented with whole berries intact, while whole bunches are used in varying degrees when site, vintage and style dictate accordingly.
Viticulture
The Rouleur philosophy is pretty simple. They source exceptional parcels of fruit from quality vineyards and growers to make wine that they, and hopefully you, like to drink. They tend to pick on the earlier side, seeking bright acid, freshness and lift without sacrificing flavour. Their aim is to capture terroir by not messing with the natural order too much, keeping winemaker inputs and additions to a minimum. Rouleur wines are handmade in small batches to deliver their take on the varieties and vineyards they work with. A delicious and personal perspective on each vintage year.
A blend of grapes from 2 different vineyards, one situated on the western edge of the Valley in Kangaroo Ground. This block delivers lovely ‘pinosity’ and Matt finds that picking early here proves better results, providing more fragrance and freshness. The other Pinot Noir vineyard is ‘1000 Candles’ in Gruyere. A revered site, that’s expertly farmed, situated in a picturesque valley heading south east, toward the Upper Yarra Valley.
Winemaking
Matt uses Pinot Noir clone MV6 from both blocks, handpicking both and destemming a greater portion but leaving roughly 20% whole bunches in ferment. In 3 open pots, he allows fermentation to start naturally and work each OTF as needed -pumping over, never hard plunging. After 2-3 weeks on skins, each fermenter is pressed individually, running juice to tank allowing sugars to dry before racking to barrel for MLF and maturation. Wine remained on gross lees the entire time in barrel with the aim of building a little texture and mouth feel, not leaving tannins exposed. A combination of old and new oak was used, opting for around 10% new Burgundian coopered puncheons, and the wine remained in oak for 9 months before bottling without fining and only light filtration.
Tasting Note
All about the lightness and brightness. That’s the vibe with this seamless Yarra Valley Pinot Noir from Rouleur, as Matt East drops another beautiful fresh wine.
This year’s Pinot Noir displays classic high toned Yarra dark cherry, with an aniseed, cinnamon spiced edge. There’s brambly red fruits too and a hint of undergrowth. The palate is mid weight, long and finishes with a bright, sappy edge.
Goes well with
Bright and vibrant Pinot Noir like this wine from Rouleur pairs well with dishes that lob up some contrasting flavours, with pork and duck dishes a natural go-to choice, thanks to the fatty edge. We also like to accentuate that slightly herbal edge by going for dishes that include spices like thyme or rosemary, making some classic rustic French chicken cassoulet or even potato-based vegetarian stews.
Cellaring
The 2024 Rouleur Pinot Noir is best cellared for 3–5 years. As a bright, cool-climate style from the Yarra Valley designed with powdery tannins, it can be enjoyed young, but will benefit from short-term aging to allow the complex dark and red sour cherry, amaro, and spice aromatics to evolve.
Don’t take our word for it
92 Points – Halliday Wine Companion 2026
Features
Varieties: Pinot Noir 100%
Colour: Red
ABV: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Style: Still
Case Size: 12 x 75cl
Country: Victoria, Australia
Region: Yarra Valley
Vintage: 2024
