Category Archives: Mornington Peninsula

2012 Montalto Estate Main Ridge Block Single Vineyard Pinot Noir

Situated to the south-west of the Merricks Block site. Apparently it’s a cooler, more vigorous vineyard planted on red volcanic soils. This one has a bit of gravitas to it. It’s broody and earthen – damp earth at that. Density, … Continue reading

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2012 Montalto Estate Merricks Block Single Vineyard Pinot Noir

It would seem that quite a lot has happened since I last visited the Montalto Estate cellar door in 2008. For starters winemaker Simon Black arrived in 2009 with stints at Heathcote Estate, Willow Creek and Clyde Park under his … Continue reading

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2012 Port Phillip Estate Quartier Pinot Noir

At the most accessible end of the Port Phillip/Kooyong Estate Pinot Noir spectrum we have the Quartier Pinot Noir. Lots of ripe, sweet fruit and a glossy overall visage. Affable and primary with raspberry and cherry stuffing and a velvety … Continue reading

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2011 Port Phillip Estate Pinot Noir

The two major issues confronting the regions hit by the great wet in 2011 were under-ripe fruit and unclean fruit. This is an uncommon miss from Port Phillip Estate/Kooyong. Don’t judge their other wines by it. Swampy, brackeny, salty and … Continue reading

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2011 Kooyong Estate Pinot Noir

Has the sap and smoke of the 2010 if not quite the intensity of fruit. It bears the mark of the cool vintage but not necessarily in such a bad way. The acid is slightly elevated and pepper dominates more … Continue reading

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2011 Kooyong Estate Chardonnay

While still a line and length Chardonnay I’m quite surprised by how much flavour the 2011 Kooyong Estate Chardonnay packs. I reckon a wide demographic of Chardonnay fiends will gain pleasure from this. It smells of preserved lemons, white peach, … Continue reading

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2012 Port Phillip Estate Quartier Pinot Gris

This is a bit more like it. Feels more fruit sweet than residual sugar sweet and I like the extremely subtle burnt match and floral notes. Baked apples, acacia honey, nashi pear, sweet spice and lemon curd. An enjoyable mouthfeel, … Continue reading

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2012 Jamsheed Harem Series Pepé le Pinot

This year’s Pepé le Pinot comes from the Mornington Peninsula, not the Yarra Valley. It still maintains its sense of wildness though. Fermented using indigenous yeasts and aged in older French oak. Dark cherry, loganberries and plum. Forest floor litter … Continue reading

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2012 Port Phillip Estate Quartier Arneis

“Our mother should have just named you Laika! It’s for your own good It’s for the neighborhood Our older brother bit by a vampire For a year we caught his tears in a cup And now we’re going to make … Continue reading

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2012 Ocean Eight Pinot Gris

I really wish we saw more Pinot Gris like this. Gives the grape and style a sense of relevancy that is often lacking. It possesses presence and body but maintains form through animated acidity and gentle phenolic grip. Nuts, honeysuckle and … Continue reading

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