The Mornington Peninsula is recognised as one of Australia’s premier regions for cool-climate Pinot Noir, and at Montalto it’s our defining varietal. From estate-grown wines to Single Vineyard bottlings, each Pinot Noir reflects the character of its site - Red Hill, Tuerong and beyond - shaped by maritime breezes, ancient soils and meticulous winemaking. Fresh, juicy, and eager to please, this peninsula Pinot pours ruby-red with raspberry sweetness and plenty of fresh young fruit.
Buoyed by bright acidity and spice fragrance this is a very compelling release with finely coating tannins that extend the full length of the palate. The 2021 is an exciting wine to cellar as bouchard pere & fils chassagne-montrachet time will allow the more beguiling aromatic side to reveal itself to the full. This wine is a composition of sections of the original 1988 planting and the 2001 Kaye vineyard.
A bright, fresh, racy version, showing pomegranate and blood orange fruit laced with a mouthwatering mineral edge, with light savory and sanguine hints adding range on the finish. Might be on the skinny side for some, but this is balanced and persistent. A blend of clones and a warm year have combined to produce a juicy, generous wine with lots of fruit intensity- plum, cherry and blackberry. There is plenty of body and length with a crunchy acidity and a spicy oak touch. This is incredibly fresh and vivid with orange peel, orange blossoms, cherries and hints of rose stem. Medium-bodied with a sleek and racy palate of creamy, fine tannins and a energetic length and purity.
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.
It is against the law to sell or supply alcohol to, or to obtain alcohol on behalf of, a person under the age of 18 years. Wines in the range are made using select Mornington Peninsula fruit by the good people at Yarra Valley stalwarts and former Secret Bottle featured winery Mandala. Maressa wines were created by Charles Smedley and David Fesq, with a goal to express the delicious, refreshing styles that Mornington Peninsula does so well. All the grapes are grown in the Mornington region, and are made under the attentive hand of the Mandala winery team.
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.
Subtle spicy notes of cinnamon, cardamom and star anise vie for attention. On the palate the wine is silky and fresh with bright red cherry fruit and clove and cinnamon spice. A hint of black pepper, fresh rosemary, thyme and lavender play across the tongue and the red cherry fruit lingers long. Silky tannin structure and bright red fruit acid balance the flavours and the wine is delicious and harmonious. The nose opens with red cherry, cranberry, rose petal and subtle hints of forest floor and spice. On the palate it is light to medium bodied, with soft tannins, bright acidity and layers of red fruit, earth, and savoury herbs.
The 2024 release is more about the earthiness and bramble reflective of the majority of the fruit coming from Little Creek and Basket Range, but it still sits comfortably in our usual house style - a dance of aromatics and tannin. FINEPINOT supports the Responsible Service of AlcoholNo Alcohol can be sold or supplied to anyone under 18. Under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 it is an offence to supply alcohol to a person under the age of 18 years. The penalty exceeds $6,000.It is an offence for a person under the age of 18 years to purchase or receive liquor.
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.
It was in the ’90s that significant growth began, with landmark estates like Kooyong and Yabby Lake being planted to pinot and chardonnay. Their success would begin in the 2000s, and further cement the reputation of the Peninsula as a premier producer of the Burgundy varieties. It has the power to transport you to different corners of the world, connect you with nature, and evoke emotions. That's why, when you open a bottle from Secret Bottle, you're not just enjoying a drink; you're embarking on a sensory journey that immerses you in the rich tapestry of winemaking traditions. Our team of experts scours the globe, seeking out winemakers who embody passion, craftsmanship, and a commitment to producing wines that truly stand out. Change of mind returns are available for up to 30days after purchase.
He also managed to squeeze in a winemaking degree in his spare time. Since 2003, Nadeson has been focused solely on the estate, farming with biodynamic principles and making wine from home vines, select local vineyards and as far afield as Heathcote, the Pyrenees and Henty. With a generally vaunted reputation, Mornington Peninsula pinot noir is already in an enviable position, even without the significant advantage of tourism that its idyllic location and surrounds encourage. The foundation was laid long ago, and the wines have found their place around the country and indeed around the world, with many estates exporting broadly, albeit often in small quantities.
Voss is your AI wine expert that answers all your questions and guides you to that perfect bottle. The boutique took residence in 2004 inside the former Turkish Bath House inside the coveted Royal Arcade, Melbourne. I ordered this 6 weeks before my husbands birthday and it never arrive. Sue’s interest in the interaction of viticulture and other agriculture - she’s also a champion vegetable-grower! - inspired a focus on specially-selected small parcels of fruit, both at the company’s Coonawarra base and carefully curated from elsewhere in Australia. That generational change is often a collaborative one, with the hard-earned wisdom of the older but still very much active generation working alongside their often very much grown children to drive the quality ever higher.
“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.
Swell Season Chardonnay
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5 min read
