Sileni Exceptional Vintage Pinot Noir 2017

Fully mature Hawke’s Bay Pinot with cedar and savoury spice

The more evolved of these two Sileni releases, the 2017 shows cedar, savoury spice, tart cherry and woody oak.
Its colour is moving from garnet towards brick, with the fruit giving way to the complex, savoury flavours that come with bottle age.

WHAT IT TASTES AND FEELS LIKE
Fresh berry fruit has largely receded.
Cedar, spice and tart cherry now lead, with acidity and oak more apparent on the palate.
This is a fully mature Pinot for people who enjoy savoury development rather than the bright, juicy fruit of a young wine.

AN OLDER RELEASE FROM PRODUCER-HELD STOCK
This vintage remained in the producer group’s inventory after its original release.
The group’s decision to reduce its remaining older stocks gave Wine Central access to a wine with genuine bottle development.

RE-TASTED BY SILENI IN AUGUST 2026
Because this is an aged release, Wine Central asked Sileni’s Head of Production and winemaker to re-taste it and describe how it had developed:
“Colour fading to garnet/brick. Nose shows more development, with cedar and savoury spices dominating. Palate is tart cherry, with more spice and woody oak, and starting to dry out. Drink now.” - Sileni Head of Production and winemaker, assessment supplied 27 August 2026

Our recommendation: enjoy this mature release now and over the next 12 months.

WHERE IT WAS GROWN & HOW IT WAS MADE
The 2017 fruit came from elevated river terraces in the cooler Mangatahi subregion of inland Hawke’s Bay.
It was fermented in open-top tanks with hand plunging, then matured in French barriques for nine months and aged barrels for a further four months.
The blend included 20% new oak and a 6% whole-bunch component.

PUT IT WITH FOOD
Try duck confit, pork belly, slow-cooked lamb, venison, beef bourguignon or a rich mushroom dish.
These savoury flavours complement the wine’s development and give its mature structure something substantial alongside it.

IS THIS YOUR STYLE?
Choose it if you enjoy fully mature Pinot with cedar, savoury spice, tart fruit and developed oak character.
If you prefer bright berry fruit and the softer fruit-forward character of younger Pinot, this probably isn’t your style.
If mature, savoury Pinot is your thing, there’s plenty here to explore.

SERVING & BOTTLE VARIATION
Stand the bottle upright before opening and serve at about 16–18°C.
Taste it on opening and give it a little air if needed.
Mature bottles can naturally show some variation. If a bottle is genuinely faulty, contact Wine Central and we’ll put it right in line with our returns policy.

TRUST YOUR OWN TASTE.
Bottle age takes Pinot Noir somewhere very different from its youthful beginnings.
The question isn’t whether mature Pinot is better.
It’s whether you prefer it.