Unlike Shiraz or Cabernet, they say you need to spend good money to get a good Pinot Noir but we at WineStar challenge that theory by assembling 3 bottles each from 4 renowned producers from 4 Pinot regions from the Adelaide Hills, Orange, Yarra Valley and Tasmania.  All four wines have received 93 Points or better from Australia's leading wine critics which serves to highlight the tremendous quality.

The StarDozen consists of the following:

3 bottles        Medhurst Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2025
3 bottles        Pepper Tree Limited Release Orange Pinot Noir 2024
3 bottles        Vandenberg Six Brothers Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2025
3 bottles        Bell & Gong Valleyfield Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

Medhurst Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2025
Mostly MV6. 5% whole bunches. 20% new oak. A very bright crimson. Aromatic with a bouquet of red fruits, poached rhubarb, rose petal and spice. Fleshy and energetic on the palate with fine, silky tannins. Medhurst's calling card is in great form. A delicious wine to drink now through the next 5-7 years. Date: Jan 2026; Alcohol: 13%; Price: $38.00; Drink by: 2032; Rating: 96 Points & Special Value Star; James Halliday Wine Companion

Pepper Tree Limited Release Orange Pinot Noir 2024
From Estate vineyards in the Orange region, this Pinot Noir has the benefit of fruit growing at a higher altitude, with a cooler climate, than most. Garnet with a ruby russet rim, the nose exhibits raspberries and cherries, a hint of orange rind, aniseed, florals and spices. It is a most appealing nose and leads us to an elegant, well balanced, seamless Pinot Noir palate, with a fine line of acidity running the length. That palate offers hints of truffles and there is very good length. A lot to like here and every reason to believe that it will improve further over the next six to eight years. Drink: 2026–2034; Price: $40.00; Rating: 93 Points; Ken Gargett

Vandenberg Six Brothers Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2025
This is a fine Pinot Noir. It has substance, it has a pretty side, it's impressively well structured and it extends beautifully through the finish. Win-win-win. Red cherry and strawberry flavours come flashed with elaborate smoked meat and dried flowers characters. The spread of this wine, the gravity and the extended finish are all A-Grade. Date Tasted: April 2026; Alcohol: 13.5%; Price: $50.00; Closure: Diam; Rating: 94 Points; Campbell Mattinson

Bell & Gong Valleyfield Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024
This is a wonderful example of Tassie pinot. The nose displays bright red fruits with just a subtle, slightly damp earth truffly character sitting within. The palate picks up those cherry and raspberry red fruits with a touch of mulberry. And there's a firmish, fine thread of tannin that gives it structure and poise. This is a classy, expressive pinot noir that can handle cellaring in the slightly longer term, but it is drinking superbly right now. Price: $45.00; Drink to: 2025-2035; Rating: 94 Points; Ray Jordan