The 2008 Gruyere Pinot Noir has a very pale ruby color with muted strawberry and tomato leaf aromas. Crisp, clean and purely fruited though some may find it a little austere, this Pinot has a low level of astringent tannins and a medium body going into a medium-long finish. Drink it now to 2013. Winemaker Mac Forbes, formerly with Mount Mary, has now gone out on his own purchasing fruit from across Yarra Valley and crafting wines to his own unique style. The Pinots in particular have received split opinions from the locals, some adoring these very pale colored, delicate wines while others think he’s gone too far in the “delicate” direction. While I respect his vision, I do think some of the wines are a little lacking in intensity and structure. For those that like to live life on the light side, I think there’s a lot of pleasure to be had from his Pinots as well as the Chardonnays.Importer: Ronnie Sanders, Vine Street Imports, Philadelphia, PA; tel. (215) 533-9464