2013 Moorooduc Estate Pinot Noir, Mornington

Ruby red in colour, this wine has a bright nose of red and black cherries, black raspberries, violet, lilies and hints of sandalwood spice. More savoury on the palate, with crunchy cherry fruit and darkly exotic spicy notes, reminiscent of church incense. Savoury, earthy, granitic notes linger and on the finish, a touch of the combination of sweet fruit and refreshing bitterness of sucking the last fruit off a cherry pip. Delicious. This wine cries out for something rich and meaty – duck liver pate, confit duck legs, rillettes and sour dough toast. 95 pts – JHalliday Balance is the key. It's a powerful release, dark of fruit and smouldering with spice, the mix of fruit sweetness and tangy acidity carried smoothly along by crackling spice and creamy oak. It pushes various buttons at just the right moments, keeping one eye on the future as it does so. 2023/$38/14%