2024 Portsea Estate Back Beach Pinot Gris, Mornington Peninsula

An appealing, fresh offering with varietal flavours of pears, both fresh and poached, white nectarine and everything dusted in ginger powder. There’s texture but also fine acidity keeping this in a lighter frame. Drink to 2027.

91 points Jane Faulkner for Halliday Wine Companion, 30 June 2025

Portsea Estate was planted in 2000 to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Tempranillo on a low elevation site of humus rich topsoils over calcareous sands. The estate also draws fruit from a second site in Main Ridge at an elevation of 172 metres planted in stages from 1997 to 2022 to Chardonnay as well as Pinots Gris and Noir. The two sites are farmed to principles of regenerative viticulture and are certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.

The Back Beach wine are made from both estate and contract grown Mornington Peninsula fruit. 2024 Back Beach Pinot Gris is a blend of Portsea Estate’s Main Ridge vineyard and a site in Balnarring.

Matured in a combination of old oak and ceramic egg, the wine pours a slight copper hue and greets with flinty aromas of stewed orchard fruit. Textural and rich in fruit, the palate is reasonably light for the style and feels balanced due to its fine line of acidity.

A drink-now style, serve this with summer salads with fruit elements, grilled prawns or maybe a roast chicken.