2023 Moorooduc The Moorooduc McIntyre Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula

While the ’23 pinots do need extra cellaring time, it’ll be interesting to see how they age. This has no shortage of acidity, with the tannins sweet and supple. However, this is an enjoyable drink now, with the right food, offering dabs of red berries and cherries, forest floor undergrowth and floral aromas, lots of fresh herbs and a little savoury.

93 points Jane Faulkner winecompanion.com.au

At Moorooduc Estate, Pinot Noir has always been treated with quiet reverence and The Moorooduc McIntyre sits at the very top of the tree. Founded by Richard and Jill McIntyre in the early 1980s, the estate has become one of the Mornington Peninsula’s most respected pioneers, known for estate grown fruit, hand crafted methods and a steadfast belief in site expression. This flagship cuvée draws from the most distinguished parcels across their vineyards, with low yields and traditional techniques such as wild fermentation and maturation in carefully chosen oak helping shape a Pinot Noir of depth, structure and longevity. It is very much a serious wine, built for contemplation as much as pleasure.

Deep ruby with garnet tones, the wine opens with a beautifully layered bouquet of black cherry, wild strawberry and plum intertwined with rose petal, forest floor, clove and a subtle savoury note of dried herbs and cedar. There is a sense of gravitas here that unfolds slowly in the glass. The palate is finely sculpted and powerful yet poised, dark and red fruits carried across firm, silky tannins with notes of rhubarb, spice and mineral nuance adding complexity. Bright natural acidity provides tension and drive, leading into a long, resonant finish that lingers with earthy, floral detail.

This is the sort of Pinot Noir that demands a proper moment. A decanter on the table, good stemware, something special roasting in the kitchen and the feeling that the evening might stretch long past expectations. Roast duck with truffle jus, venison loin, mushroom ragù or aged Comté will all meet it on equal terms. While already captivating, it will reward patience over ten to fifteen years as layers of game, dried rose, leather and sous bois complexity evolve. A benchmark Mornington Peninsula Pinot that confirms Moorooduc’s place among Australia’s most serious and enduring producers.