2025 Joshua Cooper Doug's Vineyard Pinot Noir – 96 Points

🏆 96 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING. 94 POINTS THE WINE FRONT. ONE OF THE MACEDON RANGES' MOST EXCITING PINOT NOIRS.

96 Points — JamesSuckling.com | 94 Points — Mike Bennie, The Wine Front

2025 JOSHUA COOPER DOUG'S VINEYARD PINOT NOIR — MACEDON RANGES, VICTORIA

RRP $79 | ONLY 700 DOZEN PRODUCED

There are certain vineyards that seem almost perfectly suited to Pinot Noir.

And Doug's Vineyard in the Macedon Ranges is one of them.

Imagine a vineyard perched 500 metres above sea level.

Ancient red volcanic basalt soils.

A cool, elevated site on the outskirts of Romsey.

And a winemaker with an extraordinary ability to capture the personality of a vineyard.

WELCOME TO THE 2025 JOSHUA COOPER DOUG'S VINEYARD PINOT NOIR.

And what a wine this is.

Dark raspberries.

Morello cherries.

Freshly picked roses.

Exotic spices.

Delicate herbs.

And the most beautiful, fine, velvety tannins.

This is Pinot Noir with genuine concentration and depth, but without sacrificing the elegance, perfume and freshness that make the Macedon Ranges so exciting.

96 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING.

94 POINTS THE WINE FRONT.

And Joshua Cooper considers the 2025 among his finest vintages from this extraordinary vineyard.

Joshua Cooper — One of Australia's Most Exciting Contemporary Winemakers

Joshua Cooper comes from one of Victoria's great winemaking families.

His parents, Alan and Nelly Cooper, established Cobaw Ridge in the Macedon Ranges.

Josh grew up surrounded by vineyards, exceptional wine and a deep appreciation for cool-climate viticulture.

But rather than simply following the family business, he established his own label in 2012.

His first vintage consisted of just one barrel.

From those modest beginnings, Joshua Cooper has become one of the most exciting young winemakers in Australia.

2020 GOURMET TRAVELLER WINE YOUNG WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR.

2024 HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION BEST NEW WINERY.

And what I particularly admire about his wines is their restraint.

He's not interested in producing enormous wines with excessive alcohol, extraction or oak.

Instead, he searches for vineyards that naturally produce exceptional fruit.

Vineyards with distinctive geology.

Interesting microclimates.

And the potential to create wines with perfume, structure and genuine individuality.

DOUG'S VINEYARD IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

Doug's Vineyard — 500 Metres Above Sea Level on Volcanic Basalt

Here's something many wine lovers wouldn't know.

DOUG'S VINEYARD SITS APPROXIMATELY 500 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF ROMSEY.

Owned by the Newnham family, the vineyard was planted around twenty years before the 2025 vintage.

It's situated on a north- and north-east-facing hillside.

And the soils are absolutely fascinating.

RED, ROCKY VOLCANIC BASALT.

These soils can restrict excessive vine growth, helping the vines produce small, concentrated bunches.

But the altitude is just as important.

The cool conditions of the Macedon Ranges allow Pinot Noir to ripen slowly while maintaining natural acidity.

The result is fruit with remarkable intensity, but without needing excessively high sugar levels.

And that is one of the secrets to great Pinot Noir.

CONCENTRATION WITHOUT HEAVINESS.

PERFUME WITHOUT EXCESSIVE RIPENESS.

STRUCTURE WITHOUT HARSH TANNINS.

Doug's Vineyard has all three.

Here's Something Fascinating — Three Pinot Noir Clones

Another interesting detail is the vineyard's planting material.

DOUG'S VINEYARD IS PLANTED PREDOMINANTLY TO MV6 PINOT NOIR, WITH SMALLER AMOUNTS OF CLONES 114 AND 115.

MV6 is one of the most important Pinot Noir selections in Australian viticulture.

It has a long history in the country's finest cool-climate vineyards and is particularly valued for producing wines with aromatic complexity and fine structure.

The Dijon clones 114 and 115 bring their own characteristics to the vineyard.

Together, these different selections provide Joshua Cooper with fruit capable of delivering both concentration and aromatic detail.

And the 2025 vintage demonstrates that beautifully.

Raspberry.

Cherry.

Rose petals.

Potpourri.

Exotic spice.

And extraordinary freshness.

THIS IS PINOT NOIR WITH A REAL SENSE OF PLACE.

The Winemaking — 20% Whole Bunch and Traditional Foot Plunging

Here's another reason Joshua Cooper's wines are so compelling.

The winemaking is deliberately traditional.

The fruit was hand-harvested in the cool of the morning and carefully sorted in the vineyard.

Then came an important decision.

20% OF THE FRUIT WAS FERMENTED AS WHOLE BUNCHES.

The remaining 80% was destemmed.

Whole-bunch fermentation can contribute aromatic complexity, savoury detail and a distinctive tannin structure when carefully managed.

The fruit was transferred to open fermenters and allowed to soak for approximately four to five days at its naturally cool temperature before fermentation began.

Extraction was gentle.

A combination of pumping over and traditional foot plunging helped manage the ferment.

After approximately three weeks on skins, the wine was pressed.

And then came the maturation.

Laurent Magic Cask — A Fascinating Oak Choice

The 2025 Doug's Vineyard Pinot Noir was matured in a combination of new and seasoned Laurent Magic Cask Burgundian oak barrels.

These distinctive barrels use thick staves and a light, blonde toast.

The objective is to support the wine's development without overwhelming its delicate fruit character.

The wine spent twelve months in oak on lees.

Then another four months in stainless steel on fine lees.

And finally, it was bottled unfined and unfiltered.

That's sixteen months of carefully managed maturation.

And the result is a Pinot Noir with extraordinary texture.

Fine, silky tannins.

Beautifully integrated fruit.

And a long, elegant finish.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN EXCEPTIONAL FRUIT MEETS INTELLIGENT, RESTRAINED WINEMAKING.

96 Points — James Suckling

96 POINTS.

An outstanding score for a Pinot Noir from one of the Macedon Ranges' most fascinating single vineyards.

And what makes Doug's Vineyard so compelling is the combination of intensity and finesse.

There's genuine fruit concentration.

But there's also wonderful aromatic lift.

Fine tannins.

Fresh acidity.

And a distinctive savoury complexity.

At $79, this is a particularly exciting opportunity to explore Joshua Cooper's interpretation of great Macedon Ranges Pinot Noir.

94 Points — Mike Bennie, The Wine Front

94 POINTS.

Mike Bennie's review is particularly interesting because it focuses on the wine's elegance and restraint.

He describes a sleek, refreshing Pinot Noir with tart cherry fruit, rosehip tea character, delicate herbal complexity and extremely fine tannins.

There's also a subtle savoury dimension, with suggestions of game and truffle.

But what really stands out is the texture.

FINE, LACY TANNINS.

A compact, beautifully proportioned palate.

And wonderful freshness.

This isn't Pinot Noir trying to overwhelm you with power.

It's a wine that impresses through balance, detail and precision.

EXACTLY WHAT GREAT MACEDON RANGES PINOT NOIR SHOULD BE.

The 2025 Vintage — One of the Finest Doug's Vineyard Releases Yet

Joshua Cooper is particularly excited about the 2025 vintage.

And it's easy to understand why.

The wine has beautiful depth of colour.

The aromas are wonderfully pure.

Raspberry.

Morello cherry.

Rose garden.

Potpourri.

Exotic spices.

And delicate savoury notes.

But it's the palate that really impresses.

There's wonderful concentration through the middle.

A creamy, almost seamless texture.

And long ribbons of fine, velvety tannins.

Everything is beautifully balanced.

DEPTH WITHOUT WEIGHT.

CONCENTRATION WITHOUT EXCESS.

ELEGANCE WITHOUT SACRIFICING FLAVOUR.

Josh believes the wine has excellent cellaring potential.

And with only 700 dozen produced, this is a release that serious Pinot Noir lovers should be paying attention to.

Tasting Notes — Raspberry, Morello Cherry, Roses and Exotic Spice

Appearance: Deep, bright ruby red with youthful vibrancy.

Aromas: Fresh raspberries, Morello cherries, rose petals, potpourri, delicate herbs and exotic spice.

Palate: Concentrated and beautifully refined, with layers of red cherry, dark raspberry and subtle savoury complexity.

Texture: Creamy and silky through the middle palate, supported by beautifully fine tannins.

Tannins: Delicate, lacy and velvety, providing wonderful structure without heaviness.

Acidity: Bright, refreshing and beautifully integrated.

Complexity: Rosehip tea, subtle herbs, spice and delicate earthy notes.

Finish: Long, persistent and elegant, with lingering red fruit and savoury detail.

FRAGRANT. SILKY. PRECISE. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL PINOT NOIR.

Why the Macedon Ranges Is So Exciting for Pinot Noir

The Macedon Ranges is one of the coolest wine regions on mainland Australia.

And it's precisely these cool conditions that make it so fascinating for Pinot Noir.

The region has remarkable diversity.

Granite.

Volcanic basalt.

Different elevations.

Different vineyard aspects.

And an extraordinary range of microclimates.

Some vineyards produce delicate, ethereal Pinot Noir.

Others deliver darker fruit, greater concentration and more pronounced structure.

Doug's Vineyard is particularly compelling because it combines both personalities.

THE DEPTH AND INTENSITY OF A GREAT VOLCANIC VINEYARD WITH THE PERFUME AND FINESSE OF COOL-CLIMATE PINOT NOIR.

And Joshua Cooper captures that balance beautifully.

Cellaring Potential

Mike Bennie's published drinking window for the 2025 release is 2026–2033.

The wine's concentrated fruit, fine tannins and natural acidity should reward careful cellaring.

Enjoy it now for its bright raspberry fruit, floral perfume and vibrant freshness.

Or put a few bottles away to develop greater savoury complexity.

I'd be particularly interested to see how the wine evolves over the next five to seven years.

Food Pairing

This is a magnificent food wine.

Roast duck.

Wild mushroom risotto.

Roast chicken.

Pork tenderloin.

Duck ragu.

Or grilled quail.

My choice?

ROAST DUCK BREAST WITH CHERRIES AND A LIGHT RED WINE JUS.

The Pinot Noir's cherry fruit, exotic spice and beautiful acidity would make an exceptional combination.

Why You'll Love It

• 96 points — JamesSuckling.com

• 94 points — Mike Bennie, The Wine Front

• Produced by acclaimed winemaker Joshua Cooper

• 2020 Gourmet Traveller Wine Young Winemaker of the Year

• 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Best New Winery

• Single-vineyard Pinot Noir from the Macedon Ranges

• Doug's Vineyard situated near Romsey

• Approximately 500 metres above sea level

• North- and north-east-facing vineyard

• Red, rocky volcanic basalt soils

• Predominantly MV6 Pinot Noir, with clones 114 and 115

• Hand-harvested fruit

• 20% whole-bunch fermentation

• Traditional open fermenters

• Gentle extraction and foot plunging

• Approximately three weeks on skins

• Matured in Laurent Magic Cask Burgundian oak

• Twelve months in oak on lees

• Four additional months in stainless steel

• Bottled unfined and unfiltered

• Raspberry, Morello cherry, rose petals and exotic spice

• Fine, silky and beautifully structured tannins

• 13.5% alcohol

• Only 700 dozen produced

• Drinking window 2026–2033

• RRP $79

The Liquid Vibe Verdict

I absolutely love what Joshua Cooper is doing with Pinot Noir.

And Doug's Vineyard is one of the most exciting wines in his range.

What fascinates me is the vineyard.

A north-facing hillside near Romsey.

500 metres above sea level.

Ancient volcanic basalt soils.

And a combination of Pinot Noir clones that produces fruit with extraordinary perfume and concentration.

But the real magic is how Josh handles that fruit.

The wine has depth.

It has texture.

It has beautiful concentration.

But everything is delivered with extraordinary restraint.

No excessive oak.

No unnecessary extraction.

Just beautiful Pinot Noir with a genuine sense of place.

96 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING.

94 POINTS THE WINE FRONT.

ONLY 700 DOZEN PRODUCED.

2025 JOSHUA COOPER DOUG'S VINEYARD PINOT NOIR.

MACEDON RANGES, VICTORIA.

RRP $79.

ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING SINGLE-VINEYARD PINOT NOIRS COMING OUT OF THE MACEDON RANGES.