Temple Bruer Preservative Free Pinot Noir 2024: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Earthy & Forest-Floor (Pinot-Style)

Here’s a preservative-free Pinot Noir that leans into fragrance and finesse rather than weight. Expect dark cherry, raspberry and plum up front, with a subtle herbal lift (rosemary and thyme) and a warming, gentle spice line—cardamom and clove—through the middle. The palate is dry and light-to-medium bodied, shaped by fine, soft tannins and bright natural acidity, finishing silky and clean.

Highlights

• Certified organic, vegan-suitable and preservative-free
• No added sulphur dioxide (Free SO2 0 ppm; Total SO2 0 ppm)
• Red berry and cherry fruit with cardamom, clove and a leafy-herbal lift
• Fine tannins with fresh acidity for a food-friendly finish
• Drink now or cellar up to 5 years

Taste Profile

Tasting Notes

Ruby red in the glass. Aromas of dark cherries, raspberries and plum sit alongside fresh florals, a hint of vanilla, and dried rosemary and thyme. The palate is all about red berries and cherry skin, with cardamom and clove adding warmth. Soft, fine tannins and lifted acidity keep everything bright, finishing clean and gently savoury.

Winemaking

Parcels were picked, de-stemmed and fermented separately, with a long, cool ferment designed to preserve fresh fruit character. Malolactic fermentation was completed with French oak before bottling in June 2024, giving subtle spice and shape rather than overt oakiness. No sulphur dioxide was added at any stage.

Vineyard & Vintage

Pinot Noir’s early ripening makes it well suited to organic growing and to a preservative-free approach. The 2024 wine is multi-regional, blending fruit from Riverland (84%), McLaren Vale (7%), Eden Valley (7%) and Langhorne Creek (2%) for both generosity and freshness. The technicals underline the dry, crisp feel: 13.0% ABV, residual sugar 0.1 g/L and bright natural acidity (TA 5.62; pH 3.49).

Why We Love It

It’s Pinot with real drinkability: bright red fruit, gentle spice, and a silky finish that suits the table. The herbal lift makes it feel fresh rather than sweet, and the preservative-free profile is a genuine point of difference in a wine that still tastes beautifully “normal”—just cleaner and more precise.

Food Pairing

This Pinot is brilliant with savoury-leaning, umami dishes and anything mushroomy or miso-ed. Try matching this wine with →

• Miso chicken (or miso mushrooms) → Recipe Search
• Mushroom risotto → Recipe Search
• Salmon tray bake → Recipe Search

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

A midweek treat that still feels special—think salmon, roast chicken, mushroom pasta, or a cheese board when you want something lighter than Shiraz.

Cellaring

Drink now for bright cherry and lifted herbs, or cellar up to 5 years as the wine leans more savoury and earthy. The fine tannins will soften and the spice notes feel more integrated with time. If opening young, 10–15 minutes of air in the glass is usually enough.

Producer

Temple Bruer is one of South Australia’s long-standing organic leaders, farming with a sustainability-first mindset and focusing on minimal-intervention winemaking. Their vineyards span the Riverland plus cooler sites like Eden Valley, giving them the ability to blend ripeness with freshness. The estate converted to organic in the mid-1990s and holds NASAA certification, with practices that emphasise soil health and working with the seasons. Their preservative-free range began in 2006 and relies on clean fruit, careful parcel handling and low-oxygen bottling to keep wines stable without adding sulphur dioxide.

Related Wines To Try →

If you love this Pinot vibe, here are a few smart next pours:

• Cool-climate Pinot with bright red cherry lift → See Saw Organic Pinot Noir
• Another preservative-free Pinot option → The Hero Preservative Free Pinot Noir 2025
• Browse more Pinot Noir → Shop Pinot Noir

FAQ

What does it taste like?

Dark cherry, raspberry and plum, with a soft floral note and a subtle herbal lift (rosemary and thyme). You’ll also get warming spice—cardamom and clove—rather than heavy oak. The finish is dry, silky and gently savoury.

Is it sweet or dry?

Dry. The fruit is bright and juicy, but the wine finishes clean and refreshing. Residual sugar is very low (0.1 g/L), so you won’t get any sweetness on the back palate.

How light is it, and what are the tannins and acidity like?

Light-to-medium bodied, true to Pinot’s more delicate frame. Tannins are fine and soft, giving a gentle grip rather than chewiness. Acidity is lifted (TA 5.62; pH 3.49), which is why it feels fresh and food-friendly.

What temperature should I serve it at, and what glassware works best?

Serve slightly chilled at 14–16°C to keep the red fruit bright and the spice neat. A Burgundy-style glass (wide bowl) is ideal for Pinot, but any medium-to-large red glass will work. If it’s warm, 15 minutes in the fridge helps.

Do I need to decant it?

Not usually. Pinot tends to open quickly, and this one is made in a bright, fruit-forward style. A gentle swirl or 10–15 minutes in the glass is plenty; decant only if you want to soften the edges further.

How long can I cellar it?

Drink now or cellar up to 5 years. With age, the fruit shifts toward more savoury, earthy notes and the spice feels more integrated. It’s a lovely “buy a couple” wine to see how it evolves.

Is it preservative-free, and what about sulphites?

Yes—this wine is preservative-free, meaning no sulphur dioxide is added. The product specs list Free SO2 at 0 ppm and Total SO2 at 0 ppm. It’s a great option if you’re actively avoiding added preservatives.

Is it organic and vegan-suitable?

Yes—certified organic and vegan-suitable per the product specs. That makes it easy to pour at plant-based dinners without needing to second-guess fining agents. Style-wise, it’s classic Pinot finesse with a clean, modern finish.

What food pairs best?

Think miso chicken, mushrooms, duck, roast chicken, and salmon—anything savoury with a bit of umami. The bright acidity cuts through richness, while the fine tannins suit lighter proteins. For vegetarian pairings, go for mushroom risotto or miso-glazed eggplant.

Who will love it, and what can I compare this wine to?

This is for Pinot lovers who want fragrance, bright red fruit and a silky, dry finish—without heaviness. If you usually drink Beaujolais, lighter Grenache, or chillable reds, this will feel like a natural step up in finesse. For a similar profile from another producer, compare it to See Saw Organic Pinot Noir.

(SKU: TB_PIN_CV)