2025 J&S Fielke Piccadilly Pinot Noir | Adelaide Hills, SA | 94 Points

🍷 94 POINTS HALLIDAY | 93 POINTS THE WINE FRONT – ONE OF THE ADELAIDE HILLS' MOST EXCITING YOUNG PRODUCERS! EXCEPTIONAL PICCADILLY PINOT NOIR!

94 Points – Halliday Wine Companion | 93 Points – The Wine Front 

2025 J&S Fielke Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir – Adelaide Hills, South Australia

 RRP $45

There is a new generation of extraordinarily talented winemakers emerging from the Adelaide Hills, and Jemma and Steve Fielke are right at the forefront.

Their 2025 Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir is a wonderful example of why this exciting husband-and-wife team is attracting so much attention.

Already awarded 94 points by Mike Bennie at Halliday Wine Companion and 93 points by Kasia Sobiesiak at The Wine Front, this is a beautifully fragrant, wonderfully textured and genuinely sophisticated Pinot Noir.

And at just $45 a bottle, it represents outstanding value for serious cool-climate Australian Pinot Noir.

The fruit comes from two carefully selected vineyard parcels in Summertown, in the celebrated Piccadilly Valley area of the Adelaide Hills.

Two different Pinot Noir clones, two vineyard aspects and thoughtful winemaking combine to create a wine of remarkable aromatic complexity.

Think dark cherry, Morello cherry, cranberry and pomegranate, complemented by violets, savoury herbs, exotic spice and beautifully integrated earthy characters.

The palate is supple and generous, yet the fine tannins, refreshing acidity and delicate savoury complexity provide wonderful definition.

This is exactly the kind of Pinot Noir that makes the Adelaide Hills such an exciting region – beautiful perfume, vibrant fruit, savoury complexity and extraordinary drinkability.

J&S Fielke – Two of the Adelaide Hills' Most Exciting Emerging Talents

J&S Fielke is the creation of Jemma and Steve Fielke, two passionate wine professionals who grew up in the Adelaide Hills.

The couple met while studying Viticulture and Oenology at the University of Adelaide in 2014.

Their professional journeys subsequently developed along complementary paths.

Jemma pursued viticulture, developing an intimate understanding of vineyards, growing conditions and the importance of exceptional fruit.

Steve focused on winemaking, gaining valuable experience in the cellar.

Their early careers included experience at respected Australian wineries, while overseas vintages in the United States further broadened their understanding of different wine regions and approaches.

In 2019, they established their own label.

Their ambition was simple but compelling: to explore the extraordinary diversity of the Adelaide Hills through carefully selected vineyards and thoughtful winemaking.

Rather than producing wines designed to fit a rigid house style, Jemma and Steve focus on allowing each vineyard to express its individual personality.

Their range now includes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Fiano and sparkling wine.

And the quality is attracting serious attention.

J&S Fielke is one of those producers that serious Australian wine enthusiasts should be watching very closely.

Piccadilly Valley – One of Australia's Great Pinot Noir Regions

The Piccadilly Valley is one of the most celebrated cool-climate wine-growing areas in Australia.

Situated in the Adelaide Hills near Mount Lofty, it has developed an outstanding reputation for producing beautifully refined Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

The region's elevated vineyards, cool growing conditions and distinctive vineyard sites provide an exceptional environment for these demanding varieties.

Pinot Noir is particularly sensitive to its growing conditions.

In warmer regions, the variety can produce generous, ripe-fruited wines, but maintaining freshness and aromatic delicacy can be challenging.

In cooler areas such as the Piccadilly Valley, Pinot Noir can develop extraordinary perfume, vibrant natural acidity and beautifully refined tannins.

The finest examples combine delicate red-fruit characters with floral notes, savoury complexity and a wonderful sense of freshness.

And the diversity between individual vineyard sites is fascinating.

Differences in slope, aspect, elevation and soil can create noticeably different expressions of the same grape variety.

This is exactly what Jemma and Steve Fielke are exploring with their remarkable 2025 Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir.

Two Vineyards, Two Clones – A Fascinating Expression of Summertown

The fruit for the 2025 J&S Fielke Pinot Noir comes from two separate vineyard parcels in Summertown.

The first is a south-facing vineyard planted to the D5V12 Pinot Noir clone.

This parcel contributes beautiful aromatic lift, perfume and elegance.

The second is an east-facing vineyard planted to the 777 clone.

This component provides additional structure, darker fruit characters and depth.

The Halliday Wine Companion review identifies the Henschke and King's Hill vineyards as the fruit sources.

This combination of vineyard aspects and clonal material is particularly interesting.

Rather than relying on one vineyard parcel to provide every characteristic, Jemma and Steve have created a wine that draws on the complementary qualities of two distinct sites.

The aromatic elegance of D5V12 is balanced by the structure and fruit depth of 777.

The result is a Pinot Noir that combines fragrance, generosity and beautifully defined tannins.

Two exceptional Adelaide Hills vineyard parcels, two complementary Pinot Noir clones and one wonderfully expressive finished wine.

The 2025 Vintage – Beautiful Fruit & Wonderful Texture

The 2025 growing season in the Adelaide Hills was warm and dry.

These conditions contributed to a wine with generous fruit expression, supple texture and darker red-berry characters.

But what makes the 2025 J&S Fielke Pinot Noir particularly impressive is the balance.

Despite the warmth of the vintage, the wine retains the aromatic lift and refreshing acidity that define great cool-climate Pinot Noir.

The fruit is ripe and expressive without becoming heavy.

The tannins provide structure without overwhelming the delicate palate.

And the savoury complexity gives the wine an additional dimension beyond simple fruit richness.

This is the hallmark of thoughtful vineyard selection and sensitive winemaking.

The 2025 vintage has produced a Pinot Noir with the generosity of a warmer year and the elegance that makes the Piccadilly Valley so special.

Morello Cherry, Cranberry, Violets & Beautiful Savoury Complexity

The 2025 J&S Fielke Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir is a wonderfully fragrant and beautifully textured wine.

The aromatics are immediately captivating.

Morello cherry, cranberry, pomegranate and red plum combine with delicate floral notes and an intriguing array of savoury spices.

There are hints of violets, lavender, sage, clove and cinnamon bark.

Subtle earthy characters, reminiscent of damp forest floor and autumn leaves, add further complexity.

The palate is generous yet wonderfully refined.

Dark cherry and vibrant red-berry flavours provide the foundation, while fine tannins and refreshing acidity contribute structure and energy.

There is a fascinating savoury dimension, with notes of dried herbs, gentle spice and earthy complexity emerging through the finish.

The tannins possess a subtle, almost pumice-like texture, providing grip without excessive weight.

A refreshing bitter-orange character adds further definition.

Beautifully fragrant, wonderfully supple and packed with character – this is Pinot Noir that manages to be both immediately delicious and genuinely complex.

Thoughtful Winemaking – 25% Whole Bunch & Wild Fermentation

The winemaking behind the 2025 Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir is particularly interesting.

Jemma and Steve incorporated 25% whole bunches into the fermentation.

Whole-bunch fermentation can contribute additional aromatic complexity, savoury spice and tannin structure, depending on the ripeness and character of the stems.

The fruit underwent a four-day cold soak before fermentation began naturally with wild yeasts.

The wine then spent 23 days on skins, allowing flavour, colour and tannin to develop.

Following fermentation, the wine was pressed and settled overnight before being transferred to French oak.

Maturation took place over nine months, with 15% new oak.

This relatively restrained proportion of new oak is particularly important.

The objective is not to dominate the wine with vanilla, toast or heavy oak flavours.

Instead, the oak provides an environment for maturation while allowing the delicate Pinot Noir fruit to remain the focus.

The wine was bottled without fining or filtration.

At 13% alcohol, it combines wonderful fruit intensity with the freshness and elegance that make cool-climate Pinot Noir so appealing.

This is thoughtful, sensitive winemaking designed to preserve vineyard character while building beautiful texture and complexity.

A Pinot Noir for Lovers of Fine Red Burgundy

For serious Pinot Noir enthusiasts, the comparison with Burgundy is inevitable.

The finest red Burgundies are celebrated for their ability to combine delicate fruit, floral perfume, savoury complexity and beautifully structured tannins.

The greatest wines can possess remarkable intensity without excessive weight.

And that is exactly what makes this style of Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir so exciting.

The 2025 J&S Fielke Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir offers a fascinating combination of red-fruit perfume, earthy complexity, fine tannins and refreshing acidity.

Its supple, elegant character will appeal enormously to enthusiasts of refined Burgundian styles.

There is something particularly attractive about the wine's balance between fruit generosity and savoury detail.

It is immediately approachable, yet possesses sufficient complexity to reward serious attention.

If you appreciate beautifully fragrant, elegant red Burgundy but are searching for outstanding Australian Pinot Noir at a more accessible price, this is a wine that deserves your attention.

A Magnificent Food Wine

Pinot Noir is one of the world's most versatile red wines at the dinner table.

Its combination of delicate fruit, refreshing acidity and relatively fine tannins makes it an excellent partner for a wide range of dishes.

The 2025 J&S Fielke Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir would be magnificent alongside roast duck, particularly with a cherry or plum-based sauce.

It would also work beautifully with roast chicken, grilled quail, pork tenderloin and mushroom-based dishes.

The wine's earthy complexity makes it particularly appealing alongside wild mushrooms, truffle-infused dishes and slow-roasted vegetables.

For something simpler, consider charcuterie, soft cheeses or a beautifully prepared wood-fired pizza.

The wine's vibrant acidity provides freshness, while its supple texture and savoury complexity complement food without overwhelming it.

This is a Pinot Noir that deserves to be enjoyed with good food and great company.

Enjoy Now or Follow Its Development Until 2031

One of the most appealing aspects of the 2025 J&S Fielke Pinot Noir is its balance between immediate drinkability and cellaring potential.

The Wine Front suggests a drinking window of 2026–2031.

The wine's vibrant acidity, fine tannins and beautifully defined fruit provide the foundation for further development.

Over time, the youthful cherry and cranberry characters may evolve towards dried flowers, forest floor, earthy spice and more complex savoury notes.

However, there is no need to wait.

The wine's supple texture and generous fruit make it particularly attractive for immediate drinking.

This is a Pinot Noir that offers genuine pleasure today, with the potential to develop additional complexity over the coming years.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we have enormous admiration for the extraordinary quality now emerging from the Adelaide Hills.

The region is producing some of Australia's most exciting Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and the next generation of winemakers is taking quality to another level.

Jemma and Steve Fielke are two of the names that deserve serious attention.

Their approach is built around outstanding vineyards, meticulous viticulture and thoughtful winemaking.

And the 2025 Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir is a wonderful example of their talent.

The wine combines two excellent Summertown vineyard parcels, carefully selected Pinot Noir clones and sensitive winemaking.

The result is beautifully fragrant, wonderfully textured and full of character.

Then there are the reviews.

94 Points – Halliday Wine Companion.

93 Points – The Wine Front.

Two outstanding assessments from respected Australian wine critics.

And the price?

Just $45 a bottle.

For Pinot Noir of this quality, from one of Australia's most celebrated cool-climate regions, that represents exceptional value.

There are plenty of Pinot Noirs at $60, $70 and considerably more that struggle to deliver this combination of fragrance, complexity and sheer drinking pleasure.

A brilliant young Adelaide Hills producer. Two carefully selected vineyard sites. Beautifully judged winemaking. Two excellent critical ratings. Just $45.

The 2025 J&S Fielke Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir is exactly the kind of outstanding-value Australian Pinot Noir we love discovering at Liquid Vibe.

Wine Details

• Producer: J&S Fielke

• Winemakers: Jemma and Steve Fielke

• Wine: Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir

• Vintage: 2025

• Region: Piccadilly Valley, Adelaide Hills, South Australia

• Fruit Sources: Henschke and King's Hill vineyards, Summertown

• Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

• Clones: D5V12 and 777

• Vineyard Aspects: South-facing and east-facing parcels

• Vintage Conditions: Warm and dry

• Whole Bunch: 25%

• Cold Soak: Four days

• Fermentation: Wild fermentation

• Skin Contact: 23 days

• Oak Maturation: Nine months in French oak, 15% new

• Fining & Filtration: Unfined and unfiltered

• Alcohol: 13%

• Closure: DIAM cork

• Critic Ratings: 94 Points – Halliday Wine Companion | 93 Points – The Wine Front

• Drinking Window: 2026–2031

• Style: Fragrant, savoury, supple and beautifully structured cool-climate Pinot Noir

• RRP: $45 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Roast duck, roast chicken, wild mushrooms, pork tenderloin, grilled quail and charcuterie

• Serving Temperature: Approximately 14–16°C