2024 Kooyong Estate Pinot Noir Half Bottle 375ml, Mornington Peninsula

Half Bottle 375ml,

Bright medium depth red-purple colour; slightly bunchy aromas, fresh, clean and straightforward, cherry in the background. The palate is deep in bold cherry fruit flavours, fresh and upright with firmness and stacks of potential. Medium-long finish. This is a baby with plenty of time ahead of it. 14 Jun 2025 Drink 2025–2034

92 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com

You are right and thanks for pulling me up. Kooyong Estate is owned by Giorgio and Dianne Gjergja and the winemaker is Glen Hayley.

Kooyong Estate Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula, is a single estate Pinot Noir shaped by the cool maritime climate of Tuerong and the Gjergja family’s long term vision for site expression. Owned by Giorgio and Dianne Gjergja, Kooyong has built its name on refined, quietly powerful wines that lean into detail rather than weight. The vineyards sit in the northern Mornington Peninsula where breezes off Port Phillip Bay stretch out the growing season and help Pinot Noir hold perfume, acidity and precision. The terroir here is a patchwork of well drained soils with ironstone and sandy loams over clay, giving naturally low vigour vines and that lovely Mornington mix of fragrance and savoury structure. In the winery, Glen Hayley is known for a measured, gentle approach that protects purity of fruit and lets the vineyard do the talking, with thoughtful oak use as seasoning rather than a headline.

The colour is a bright, translucent crimson with that classic Pinot clarity. Aromas show red cherry, wild strawberry and cranberry, then rose petal, dried herbs, gentle spice and a subtle forest floor note that feels very Tuerong. The palate is medium bodied and finely chiselled, with silky tannins, vibrant acidity and a long savoury finish that lingers with hints of red berries, sappy spice and faint earthy nuance. It is brilliant with duck breast, roast quail, pork loin with fennel, miso glazed eggplant, mushroom ragù, or chargrilled lamb with herbs when you want Pinot with a little extra backbone. Cellar potential is strong for eight to twelve years, moving from bright red fruit and florals toward more complex dried spice, sous bois and savoury depth.