The lifted pretty aromatics give way to similar vibrant spice on the palate. There is plenty of lush generous fruit alongside juicy red cherries, supported by clove, nutmeg and five spice. Soft velvet like tannins work with the bright acid to contribute to a sustained length of flavour.
The established vineyards on the Peninsula now have the significant advantage of meaningful vine age. But the reality is that many of those vineyards would likely be planted with different clones, different densities and sometimes different orientations based on today’s knowledge. Crittenden, code 38 a horticulturist by trade, scouted for a Peninsula property in the early 1980s alongside surgeon Dr Richard McIntyre, who was also looking for a suitable site. While delicious in youth, our premium Single Vineyard wines reward + years of careful cellaring, developing greater savoury depth and complexity. Is Pinot Noir from the Mornington Peninsula different to other regions? Yes - the Peninsula’s maritime climate and diverse soils create wines with brightness, elegance and depth, distinct from warmer Victorian or Tasmanian styles.
Join us and support emerging winemakers, sustainable vineyards, and the development of young professionals. Victoria Pun began her career as a speech pathologist, but she was diverted following a tasting in the Yarra Valley. After being offered a casual job opportunity as a cellar door assistant in 2019, her interest in wine deepened, beginning a first role in hospitality that was disrupted by the pandemic. Pun passed the Advanced Sommelier exam with the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2022 while working at Vue de Monde. She is the recipient of the Sommelier Australia Education Scholarship in 2022 and is currently pouring at The Recreation Bistro & Bottleshop. Simon Black is the winemaker at Red Hill’s Montalto, setting up the winery in 2009 and having run it ever since.
We gathered every Mornington pinot noir that we could find and set our expert panel the task of finding the wines that compelled the most. All wines were tasted blind, and each panellist named their top six wines. Below are the wines that made the panellists’ top-six selections from the tasting. A blend of all our estate vineyards plus the St James's vineyard in Uraidla.
Pinot noir had never been outside the orbit of Crittenden and McIntyre, with a well-honed appreciation for the wines of Burgundy. But the data suggested that it would simply be too hot for the grape. That data proved to be incorrect, and the early evidence in their vineyards, along with the pioneering wines and mentorship of Nat White, guided a change of direction in the vineyard. On the Peninsula, the maritime climate and a supposed similarity in heat summation and the like were touted as being uncannily close to Bordeaux. A homoclime (similar climate), in other words, which has been a yardstick for selecting many New World vineyard sites, though a not an infallible one.
A benchmark Marlborough wine, Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir is proof that Marlborough’s climate and clay soils make it much more than a one-grape region. Pinot Noir complements duck, roast chicken, mushroom risotto, and even richer fish like salmon. Its balance of fruit and acidity makes it exceptionally versatile. At the Montalto Cellar Door, open daily, guided tastings showcase our full Pinot Noir range. Montalto Pinot Noir is consistently acclaimed, with Halliday Wine Companion Top Five Red Star Winery status underscoring our commitment to excellence.
Stylish and seductive, the wine shows dark plum, assorted nut, thyme, cured meat and rich floral aromas on the nose, followed by a wonderfully weighted palate displaying silky flow and fleshy texture. Tannins are fine and beautifully infused, making the wine gorgeously harmonious and persistent. A blend of grapes from Bannockburn, Earnscleugh & Gibbston Vineyards.
Fabiens vinification for this wine is all about capturing finesse fragrance and purity and he has succeeded brilliantly. The Bindi Dixon Pinot Noir is based upon declassified grapes from the Original Vineyard planted in 1988 and grapes from the new Block K, planted in 2001. The ideal of this wine is to produce a delicious, perfumed, spicy harmonious, textured wine that is not as intense, complex nor ageworthy as our individual vineyard wines. Even when the outstanding Block K vines are older we will continue to declassify sections or barrels from each vineyard and produce this wine.
Sappy, moreish and complex, this wine can be enjoyed now but will gain interest over the medium term. Elegantly structured palate, presenting refined flavours of red cherry, ripe raspberry, and subtle cranberry, complemented by nuanced layers of gentle spices, subtle black tea leaf, and earthy minerality. Polished tannins and lively acidity ensure impeccable balance and sophisticated elegance. Light and feathery, with nutty flavours, bright acidity, a fine powdery tannin texture, and a firm red cherry and red fruited finish.
With nearly 18 months in bottle the rich yet elegant Lily is really staring to show itself. The wine has developed beautifully, the oak has integrated to become a background flavour and the fruit has really begun to sing. Juicy fruit flavours and tannins balancing the wine to the finish. With Secret Bottle, you can say goodbye to predictable choices and hello to a world of exciting possibilities. We handpick a diverse range of wines, meticulously chosen to showcase the unique flavours, regions, and stories that make them exceptional. Our selection process involves rigorous tastings, vineyard visits, and engaging with winemakers to ensure that every bottle we offer reflects our dedication to quality and authenticity.
Sustainability threads through and underpins our approach to everything we do. We are Justin Bubb and Anna Pooley and we have each been making wine across the globe for over 20 years. After living and working in Tasmania making wine for a number of premium vineyards throughout the state the time has come for us to release our own wines alongside working with our existing clients. Intensely aromatic, a darker fruit spectrum and complex savoury spice is interwoven seamlessly with firm, structural tannin. Sweat and sour cherries, earth, spice and a lovely elegant structure. Picardy Pinots exhibit finesse and complexity, inspired by the great Pinot Noir wines of the old world.
Ten percent whole bunch inclusion with maturation taking place in French oak for a period of 9 months. Semi translucent red core with black toned edges and a light red hue. Wonderfully perfumed the nose sees aromas of violets, red cherries and strawberries sailing through the olfactory senses with hints of dried herbs, forest floor and spicy cedar also evident. Light, fresh and supple in its feel the palate is decorated with red cherry, rhubarb, bramble, forest floor, dried herb and spicy cedar flavours. Very polished tannins and bright acidity with a seamless red fruited conclusion.
By day, enjoy long lunches in an open-air atmosphere, soak in city views from the sunlit terrace, or relish playful moments designed to delight all ages. As evening falls, the energy shifts – cocktails are poured, flavours from around the world come alive and we dial up the volume on fun. Savour exquisite wines from renowned vineyards around the globe with our carefully curated selection. Crafted with dedication and sourced from prestigious wineries, our collection invites you on a sensory voyage through the diverse spectrum of flavors and traditions that epitomise the art of winemaking. From the robust richness of Barossa Valley Shiraz to the delicate allure of Champagne, each bottle narrates a captivating tale of expertise and legacy. William Downie has become somewhat of a legendary winemaking figure over the last decade or so, with a specialty in pinot noir.
“As opposed to other Victorian pinot regions, the defining thing is that we’ve got three bodies of water around us,” says Garagiste’s Barnaby Flanders, who has worked in the region for two decades, including at Moorooduc Estate. Like many youthful Australian wine regions, that exploration of site differences and mapping out areas of similarity to identify subregions is a critical one. Also like many regions, the borders employ existing political boundaries, with the edges blurring together, even if the generalities hold true.
Bouchard Chassagne Montrachet
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5 min read
