Somm Selections with Lilli
Date Published: 24th Oct 2025
Although we’re now into summer, there’s _always _time for Pinot Noir. This week, I’m shining a light on some truly delightful drops from the Yarra Valley: Mac Forbes.
After years of honing his craft across countless vintages, Mac has refined a hands-off, vineyard-first approach that champions the character of each site. His focus on soil health, biodiversity and thoughtful farming underpins everything he does. In the cellar, he guides rather than interferes—letting each parcel express itself naturally to create wines that are bright, pure and seriously engaging.
In the mood for a summer Pinot? We’ve got the Mac Forbes Yarra Valley Pinot Noir pouring by the glass at Station Road!
Looking to build your cellar - or need Christmas gifts? Here’s what we currently have available:
2024 Mac Forbes Yarra Valley Pinot Noir $38
A regional snapshot drawn from declassified barrels across grower vineyards and Mac’s own single sites. Medium dark cherry in colour with lifted red and dark fruits. Subtle spice, a touch of carbonic crunch and mineral charm. The palate shows gravelly yet fine tannins, red-candy brightness, dark cherries and a savoury, chalky line. Fresh, moreish, and easy to enjoy now, though cellaring will add complexity.
2020 Mac Forbes Gladysdale ‘Little Yarra’ Pinot Noir $70
From Mac’s earliest-ripening site in the southern Yarra. Grey/brown clays give the wine richness and a supple, front-palate presence. Expect subtle but clear whole-bunch perfume, gentle reduction, and tightly wound red fruits. Supple, lacy fruit up front moves into a chalky, long, firmly structured finish. Complex, poised and quietly powerful.
2022 Mac Forbes Woori Yallock ‘Ferguson’ Pinot Noir $105
A tiny 1.36ha south-facing site leased since 2012-cool, protected and remarkably consistent year to year. Seductive aromatics: orange pith, rosella, black fruits and a whisper of tobacco leaf. The palate is tightly packed with plum skin, goji, raw spice and long, silty tannins. Whole-bunch lift adds freshness and layers as it unfurls in the glass.