2024 Montalto Single Vineyard Merricks Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula

The prettiest of all three single-vineyard offerings in the lineup. Starts out all floral and spicy, light and bright, tangy and juicy. There’s a decent douse of red cherries and pips, with some Middle Eastern spice, too, yet the palate remains on the lighter side. That’s OK, as there's plenty of refreshing acidity and a light feathering of tannins. One to enjoy now and in the short term. Oh and quite delicious, too.

95 points Jane Faulkner Halliday Wine Companion

From the cooler, elevated Merricks subregion of the Mornington Peninsula, Montalto Single Vineyard Merricks Pinot Noir is a more finely etched, mineral driven expression within the estate’s impressive single vineyard range. Montalto’s philosophy centres on letting each site speak clearly, and Merricks, with its cooler maritime influence and well drained soils, consistently delivers Pinot Noir of lift, detail and structural precision.

A bright ruby garnet with luminous clarity sits in the glass. Aromas unfold with wild strawberry, red cherry and cranberry layered with rose petal, spice and a subtle forest floor note. There is an immediate sense of freshness and finesse, quietly complex and beautifully composed.

The palate is medium bodied and finely structured, delivering vibrant red berry fruit framed by ultra fine tannins and bright acidity. Notes of pomegranate, dried herbs and a distinct mineral edge build through the mid palate, leading to a long, precise finish that feels both elegant and persistent. This is a Pinot Noir built on tension and clarity, rewarding careful cellaring over eight to twelve years as savoury complexity and earthy depth emerge.

Duck rillettes with crusty bread, grilled quail with herbs, or delicate mushroom dumplings shared slowly. A late evening shift into something more restrained, Erik Satie giving way to Debussy, the wine carrying that same sense of lightness, detail and quiet intensity.

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