Noon Eclipse 2021

Region and Vineyards

The 2021 Eclipse hails from McLaren Vale, one of Australia’s most prestigious red wine regions, celebrated for its old vines, Mediterranean climate, and diverse soils. The region’s proximity to the ocean provides a cooling influence that balances ripeness and freshness in reds, particularly Grenache.

Grapes for this cuvée are sourced from several estate blocks located within a quarter mile of the Noon family home and winery. The Grenache—which forms 90% of the blend—is drawn from bush vines planted in 1934 and 1943, among the oldest self-rooted vines in the region. These are planted on sandy loam over gravelly clay in the Winery and BJ's Blocks. The Shiraz (6%) and Graciano (4%) are from the Almond Block, planted more recently (19–23 years ago) on sandy gravel over clay soils.

All vines are dry-farmed and cultivated according to biodynamic principles, with a focus on soil vitality and minimal chemical input.

Winemaking

The 2021 growing season brought welcome balance—after two years of tiny crops, the vintage yielded both quality and quantity, fulfilling the estate’s long-held hopes. Harvest began in mid-March, with picking staggered over three weeks to ensure optimal ripeness.

The grapes were hand-harvested, with co-fermentation in small open oak vats. Around 33% of the Grenache was kept whole-cluster, enhancing aromatic lift and structure. Manual punchdowns were employed to start and manage fermentation. After 14 days of skin contact, the wine was gently basket pressed, with only free-run juice retained.

Aging occurred over 18 months in a diverse range of vessels: 300 L French and American hogsheads, 600 L French demi-muids, and 45 hL foudres. New oak use was restrained—just two new French barrels were used for the Shiraz component. Most barrels were seasoned (3 to 25 years old), allowing the wine’s fruit to shine.

The wine was bottled unfiltered and unfined, with a modest sulphur addition. Final composition: 15.4% alcohol, pH 3.72, 5.1 g/L total acidity. Total production: 1,042 cases.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Bright ruby with a vivid, youthful hue.
• Aroma: Beautifully perfumed nose of fresh red currants, wild strawberries, and exotic spices—evocative of sun-ripened summer berries.
• Palate: Silky and full-bodied, with a generous mouthfeel and seamless integration. Juicy red fruit dominates the mid-palate, with subtle notes of white pepper, dried herbs, and earthy warmth. The finish is long and mouth-coating, framed by fine-grained tannins.

Did you know?

Eclipse is Noon’s flagship wine, always drawn from the best-performing estate vines. The Grenache vines used in this wine are among the oldest in McLaren Vale, planted nearly 90 years ago, and remain ungrafted and self-rooted, contributing to the wine’s deep sense of place.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Slow-roasted duck with cherry glaze: Matches the wine’s berry-driven palate and rich texture.
• Chargrilled lamb skewers with za’atar and pomegranate: The wine’s spice and red fruit notes pair beautifully with Middle Eastern flavours.
• Stuffed eggplant with wild rice and harissa: A bold vegetarian option that complements the wine’s structure and savouriness.
• Manchego with quince paste: The saltiness and nuttiness of the cheese are lifted by the wine’s fruit and spice.

History of Noon Winery

The story of Noon Winery began in the 1960s, when David Noon, a French teacher turned farmer, began selling grapes from his property in McLaren Vale to local wineries. Encouraged by the quality of his fruit, he started vinifying small lots himself, eventually creating a loyal following by nothing more than word of mouth—and a simple sign at the end of his driveway.

In 1996, David’s son Drew Noon, having earned his stripes at Tyrrell’s Winery in the Hunter Valley and later achieving the title of Master of Wine, took over the estate with his wife Rae. From that moment, Noon Winery was reborn with a clearer focus on site-specific, terroir-driven red wines. The Noons enhanced vineyard practices, adopted biodynamic principles, and refined a low-intervention approach to winemaking.

Drew Noon’s philosophy is rooted in authenticity and transparency: no fining, no filtration, and minimal sulphur use. His hands-on experience in both vineyard and cellar defines every wine released under the Noon label.

Region and Vineyards

Noon Winery is situated in the heart of McLaren Vale, a region famed for its Mediterranean climate, ancient soils, and exceptionally old vines, particularly of Grenache. The proximity to the Gulf of St Vincent provides beneficial cooling breezes, tempering ripening conditions and preserving acidity in the wines.

The estate owns and works with several key vineyard parcels, notably the Winery Block, BJ’s Block, and Almond Block, located less than 400 metres from the Noon residence. The Grenache vines, many of which were planted in 1934 and 1943, are bush-trained, dry-farmed, and ungrafted, offering pure and concentrated expressions of fruit and site.

Additional fruit is sourced from the Borrett family’s vineyard in Langhorne Creek, particularly for the Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz used in wines such as Reserve Cabernet and Reserve Shiraz. These vines, aged 30–50 years, grow in deep, alluvial soils with excellent water-holding capacity, ideal for producing structured, age-worthy reds.

Wine Range of Noon Winery

Noon’s production is small-scale and highly selective, with wines released only in years that meet the estate’s quality threshold. The flagship wines include:

• Eclipse – A Grenache-dominant blend (with Shiraz and Graciano), and the winery’s most iconic wine, expressive of old vines and Mediterranean warmth.
• Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – Sourced from the same Langhorne Creek block since 1996, showing power, depth, and longevity.
• Reserve Shiraz – A bold, dark-fruited wine with exceptional ageability, made only in top vintages.
• Cabernet Sauvignon – A varietal expression from Langhorne Creek, blending richness and structure.
• Shiraz – Juicy, vibrant, and densely textured, with a touch of new oak and natural acidity.

Each wine is fermented with indigenous yeasts in open-top wooden vats, basket-pressed, and aged in a mix of seasoned French and American oak—typically large formats to minimize wood influence. All wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered, preserving natural texture and flavour.

Did you know?

Drew Noon is one of the few Masters of Wine in the world who actively farms and makes his own wine. Despite its international reputation, Noon Winery produces only a few thousand cases per year, making its wines highly sought after and rarely seen outside Australia. The Eclipse Grenache vines are nearly 90 years old, among the oldest still-producing Grenache vines in the country.