Take it to the Grave is a joint venture between Nicholas Crampton and South Australian wine grower Jim Zerella created to deliver interesting and rewarding wines whilst challenging a few established rules and preconceptions. The Take it to the Grave Pinot Noir takes on one of the wine world’s most entrenched rules – that it is impossible to make high quality, varietally expressive but affordable Pinot Noir. 

Sourced from a selection of mature, dry-grown vineyards in Langhorne Creek managed by Jim Zerella (delivering intensity, length and structure) and blended with a parcel of Barossa Valley Shiraz from Light Pass and the eastern slopes that provided opulent fruit depth.

Terrific value here with a bouncy, slurpy edge and a wine literally bursting with slurpy, pure plum, blueberry and boysenberry fruits. Flush with exotic spice and blossomy high tones, fine, sandy tannins swoop in to support to ripe berry and plum fruits and there is a nice seam of acidity providing the pulse. Lots of inherent drinkability and enjoyment here. Drink to: 2028; Price: $19.00; Date Tasted: Oct 22; Alcohol: 14.5%; Rating: 92 Points & Special Value Star; Dave Brookes; James Halliday Wine Companion