2024 Montalto Single Vineyard Tuerong Block Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula

While there’s no shortage of upfront fruit flavour, this has plenty of savouriness, detail and richness. Chinotto and blood orange are often characters infusing this wine, and they're there again this vintage alongside the dark cherries and heady aromas of autumn. Fuller-bodied, just, as the tannins hold sway. There's spicy oak in the mix and plenty of ultra-refreshing acidity, with a touch of green/bitter walnut on the finish.

95 points Jane Faulkner Halliday Wine Companion

From the warmer, low lying Tuerong subregion on the Mornington Peninsula, Montalto Single Vineyard Tuerong Block Pinot Noir offers a more generous and supple expression of the estate’s single vineyard range. Montalto’s commitment to site expression is front and centre here, with careful vineyard management and low yields allowing the character of this slightly warmer pocket to show through, delivering richness alongside the Peninsula’s hallmark freshness.

A deep ruby garnet with bright clarity fills the glass. Aromas unfold with ripe cherry, strawberry and plum layered with rose petal, baking spice and a gentle earthy note. There is a broader, more open knit feel here compared to cooler sites, yet still finely composed.

The palate is medium bodied and silky, delivering plush red and dark berry fruit framed by fine tannins and balanced acidity. Notes of cranberry, spice and subtle savoury nuance build through the mid palate, leading to a long, smooth finish that feels both generous and controlled. Drinking beautifully now for its fruit and approachability, this Pinot Noir will continue to evolve over six to ten years, gaining additional depth and complexity.

Duck breast with a touch of spice, crispy pork belly with crackling, or a rich mushroom and herb ragù shared across the table. A shift into something rhythmic and layered, Massive Attack easing into Ravel’s Boléro, the wine carrying that same sense of build, warmth and quiet intensity.