2024 Swinging Gate Wild Nulla XVI $65

11/02/2025

Doug and Corrie Cox have worked wonders on the old Loira Vineyard, first planted in 1985 by renowned winemaker and Jimmy Watson Trophy winner, Don Buchanan. When the couple purchased their Tamar Valley property in 2014, it was in need of a little bit of love and care. They spent much of their first year among the vines, breathing new life back into those old-timers.

In 2015, the Coxes made their first vintage of wines under their newly-devised label, Swinging Gate.

It was a vineyard milestone, marking 40 years since establishment. This new release of Pinot Noir from Swinging Gate celebrates another milestone. Ten years of Cox family ownership.

Such auspicious events are always more memorable when they're accompanied by topnotch vintages, and 2024 in the Tamar Valley just happened to be among the best of the past decade. The season started wet and windy, setting the scene for low-to-moderate vineyard yields. A warmer than average January brought welcome relief to growers and helped push vintage forward by some 2-3 weeks on the West Tamar. Harvests were characterised by excellent fruit intensity with fine, well-balanced acidity.

Wild Nulla is a wild-fermented Pinot Noir, made on the property by Doug Cox and sourced entirely from estate plantings. On opening, the wine immediately telegraphs its 2024 origins. It offers up a deep, rich, red/black cherry or cerise hue that is bright, clear and engaging, in spite of the wine's lack of fining and filtering. Ripe red fruits are in the driver's seat, with the aromatics showing some of that dark cherry character, together with a woodsy/sassafras forest/undergrowth element that borders on cola. Oak on the palate sits neatly in the background, but does its job of showcasing the fruit and elevating the finish.

The overall effect is very attractive indeed, in part due to the freshness and vibrancy the wine has retained after its time in barrel. There were no additions made during winemaking. No sulphur. That suggests this is a vegan-friendly Pinot Noir for early consumption rather than extended cellaring. Milestone rather than millstone.

Source: Vineyard cellar door