Moppity Vineyards is located in Young, within the Hilltops wine region. The 170 acre vineyard sits at the highest elevation in the Hilltops and the 37 year old vines are among the oldest in the region. Since acquiring the vineyard in 2004, Jason and Alecia Brown have focused on producing medium-bodied wines that reflect the unique conditions of this high-altitude, cool-climate region.

This is a darker, more expansive Tumbarumba Pinot Noir: black cherry, red plum and spice, with gentle earth notes and more drive through the finish than usual. There is still freshness and line, but the overall feel is broader, riper and more assertive, while remaining distinctly regional.

I've said, for roughly 20 years, that I like/love chardonnay from the Tumbarumba region, but I can take or leave the region's Pinot Noir. Indeed, commonly the latter. In that context, I'm not afraid to admit that I was shocked by how good this wine is. In my head at least, it's region re-defining. This is a fantastic pinot noir. It's just so complex. And so perfectly structured. And so lengthy. It tastes of undergrowth and forest berries, woodsmoke, sour cherries, cedarwood and strings of fragrant, woodsy herbs. It's immensely more-ish and yet it's serious, stringy and dry. It's so good, I'm completely taken aback. Date Tasted: June 2026; Alcohol: 13.0%; Price: $45.00; Rating: 95 Points; Campbell Mattinson

Lifted and perfumed, showing red cherry, strawberry and raspberry with subtle spice and gentle forest floor complexity. Light to medium-bodied, the palate delivers vibrant fruit of red cherry, cranberry and wild strawberry supported by silky tannins and fresh acidity. A fine savoury edge and delicate spice build through the mid-palate, finishing long, elegant and balanced. A refined cool-climate Pinot Noir showing purity, finesse and drinkability. Elegant, vibrant and expressive. Drink: 2026 to 2030; Alcohol: 13.0%; Rating: 94 Points; Vino Masters