2023 Kooyong Massale Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula

A terrific Massale this vintage with its cherry accents, wild strawberries, an abundance of warm spices and a heady fragrance of autumn leaves. It’s light and bright with fine tannins and crunchy, refreshing acidity. Very satisfying.

93 points Jane Faulkner winecompanion.com.au

Kooyong Massale Pinot Noir is one of the Mornington Peninsula’s great site driven Pinots, a wine that quietly shows just how expressive this cool, maritime region can be. The fruit comes from Kooyong’s original Massale selection vineyard, planted from cuttings taken from some of the best Pinot Noir sites in Burgundy and the Mornington Peninsula. These vines sit on ancient volcanic and sandy loam soils that give natural drainage, fine tannin structure and a savoury, mineral edge.

Kooyong was established by the Soumah and Port Phillip Estate team and later became one of the Peninsula’s most respected estates, always focused on single site expression and Burgundian principles. The Massale vineyard is the heart of the property, farmed with great care and low yields to capture purity and depth rather than power.

In the glass, the wine shows wild strawberry, red cherry and cranberry, layered with rose petal, spice, forest floor and a gentle savoury note. The palate is finely detailed and silky, with bright acidity and fine grained tannins giving energy and length. It is elegant and complex rather than bold, unfolding slowly with air.

This is a beautiful wine for the table. Roast duck, quail, pork with herbs, mushroom dishes or classic bistro fare all bring out its savoury and floral character.

Kooyong Massale Pinot Noir drinks beautifully now, but it will continue to develop over ten to fifteen years, gaining more earthy and truffle like complexity while retaining its vibrant core. It is a benchmark Mornington Pinot and a true reflection of the Massale vineyard’s pedigree.