In the Glass
2019 chardonnay-released june 2022
Winemaker: This is a crisp, lean, austere Chardonnay that has taken some time to come together, but now it’s racing!
Mike Bennie: “Ballarat here. Cool and refreshing expression with tingly, lemony tang under green apple and green melon fruit characters with some barely there nougat notes. Crisp edges, a little flinty minerally thing in the mix, grapefruity tang to close. A chiselled, firm and fresh chardonnay of great merit here.” 93 points
Mike Bennie The Wine Front
Jeni Port: “Hand-picked fruit, pressed as whole bunches, racked to barrel for wild-yeast fermentation and mlf, maturation in French oak barriques (25% new). Heavy scent of toasty vanilla oak hangs over this youngster. The 3 forces at work here – fruit, acid and oak – are yet to fully integrate. Lemon zest, grapefruit juice, quince, veneer and toast with trademark high lemony acidity.” (Halliday Wine Companion 2022). 90 points.
2018 Chardonnay-sold out
Winemaker: Pome and Stone fruits. Lovely acid and length. A complete wine.
Campbell Mattinson:
“ 100 dozen made. 25% new oak. Fermented wild. Bell clear pear, apple and stone fruit flavours with a bright spot of citrussy acidity on the finish. Good carry, flavour and ripeness within an elegant, slender context. It's in a good drinking place right now.”
93 points. (2021 Halliday Wine Companion)
2017 Chardonnay - sold out
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes:
Grapefruit, white peach/nectarine. A little toast and struck match on the nose. Lovely acid and very good length.
Halliday:
“The purchase of a new 300kg Europress sees this amount picked at a time, rigourously (sic) sorted, chilled and pressed as whole bunches the next day. The wine is fresh and lively, having been fermented in either Dargaud & Jaegle or Bossuet barrels, seemingly low toast.”
93 points (James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2020).
2016 Chardonnay
Limited Release 50 cases.
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes:
Apple, pear, grapefruit, blood orange. Slightly less acid than the 2017. Good length.
Halliday:
“I assume it has been made under the new regime of one 300kg press load at a time – it works well. The wine has flesh and freshness going hand-in-hand. “
91 points (James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2020).
2019 Pinot Noir
“Hand sorted, destemmed, 30% whole-bunches, indigenous yeasts, matured in French oak (25% new). A fine follow-up to the 2018, with the same lilting herbal, undergrowth attraction that is very much of its cool-climate origins. Finely balanced with redcurrant, pomegranate and cherry-musk aromas and sinewy and deceptively strong palate, with a firm anchor of tannins.” 92 points
Jeni Port (Halliday Wine Companion 2023)
“Blushing light ruby and a nose that’s deeply floral with a concentration of red fruits. It's coloured by hints of lemon pith, gentle herbals, roasted fig leaf, mace, Dorrigo pepper and clove.
The palate is pure, balanced and charming with ultra fine tannins, lovely acidity and ribbons of red berries, blackberry and cherry that have richness, clarity and freshness. There’s a creaminess of texture that is addictive and it holds throughout a long and harmonious tail. I wouldn't call this a very complex Pinot, but my goodness it's delicious and for $45, it's worth every cent ❤️” Marc Malouf iHeartWine
2018 Pinot Noir - sold out
“…A lilting undergrowth, leafy character to this young pinot is most attractive. It sets the scene for bright cranberry, redcurrant fruit, woody spice and sinewy tannins. Accomplished and confident winemaking on display.”
Jeni Port (Halliday Wine Companion 2022). 93 points.
“Light ruby with a floral, gently brooding and sweetly spiced nose of violets, lavender, macerated strawberry, redcurrant, cherry, fig leaf and mint tea. Some whole bunch imparts complexity. A background of top shelf oak complements the fruit and imparts some cocoa, hazelnut, marshmallow root, vanilla, citrus rind and mace. In the mouth it’s fruit forward, finely structured and beautifully in focus. Flavours of cherry, red berries, blood orange and hints of truffle show with generosity and purity. A swell of vibrant acidity sharpens the fruit as it drives, while confident fine tannins grip and dry, giving a nod to the old world and adding the scaffolding to make for a solid cooler-climate Australian Pinot Noir from Ballarat. VIC. I loved this wine!”
Marc Malouf iHeartWine and @wineworthwritingabout
“Chem free vineyard, close planted, Ballarat-ish area. If you like Latta/Eastern Peake, as examples, this is a good zone to be in for here.
Sappy, savoury pinot noir, drives with dark cherry, mushroomy funk, dark chocolate and fennel-herbal lift. Lots of structure here with cool acidity washing through that dark fruit and spice character and a brace of lacy tannin finishing the wine in a light but firming chew. Serious feeling wine but not without pleasure. Drink slowly now, cellar for a decade. 93 Points. Drink : 2021 – 2030.”
Mike Bennie The Wine Front
2017 Pinot Noir-sold out
“…A most attractive wine. Perfumed, fruit-forward and vibrant, but with a round of undergrowthy complexity. Beet, strawberry, cedar wood and sweet-spice notes have this in an excellent drinking place.”
93 points. Campbell Mattinson (Halliday Wine Companion 2021).
2016 Pinot Noir - SOLD OUT
Limited Release 50 cases.
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes:
Dark fruits, rhubarb. Lovely acid. Silky tannins, good length and a hint of a peacock’s tail.
Halliday:
“…Open fermented with 20% whole bunches, matured in French oak (25% new) this has a lot to commend it, except for a tiny pinprick of green on the finish.”
92 points (James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2020).
2015 Pinot Noir-last bottles
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes:
Quite closed at first, this wine opens up beautifully after an hour in an open bottle - it would benefit from being decanted.
Garnet in colour. Tomato leaf and herbs – think sage and thyme on the nose, dark cherries, white pepper. Chewy tannins, moderate length to finish. Unfiltered.
2009 Pinot Noir-last bottles.
Cherries, dark berries. Velvety tannins, lovely length and balance. Looking quite fresh for a 10 year old wine.
Gold Medal 2010 Ballarat Wine Show