Tricia Byrnes and Kevin Bell first planted vines at their Balnarring property in 1998 with the sole intention of creating three single vineyard pinot noirs. Their philosophy centers around respect of the environment as they see their most important role is viticulture. Their wines are from three separate vineyards with slightly different aspects that are planted with different clones of pinot noir. 

Lodestone comprises 1.4 ha of northerly aspect.  It is full of energy from the direct sun.  This is a powerful climat and capable of anything.  It is the difficult child.  We submit to its essential nature and hope it accepts our guidance.  This vineyard seems to race ahead of us every vintage, a danger to itself and us.  But it always rewards our efforts.  It has more rock and stones in the soil than Hommage and Garamond.  Ripeness is never a problem here.  It has the modern Dijon clones 114, 115 and 777, and the wonderful MV6 (see under Garamond below).  It was 90% planted in 1999 (clones 114, 115 and MV6).  The rest was planted in 2004 (clone 777).

Mid-ruby. The nose is a complex mix of flowers, fruit and the forest floor.  There are violets, raspberries and black cherries alongside crushed nuts and ferny undergrowth.  This is a full-flavoured but medium-bodied wine that tastes of intense red and black cherries which end with length and persistence.  It is tightly structured at this stage and ready to uncoil with a little time.   Fine tannins and fresh acidity frame this very balanced wine.