2025 Scotchmans Hill Pinot Gris, Bellarine Peninsula

A very bright green gold. Another excellent gris from Robin Brockett and the team at Scotchmans. Subtle aromas of orchard fruits, yellow apple and white flowers precede the dry, zesty and impeccably balanced palate. You couldn't ask for much more.

95 points Special Value Philip Rich winecompanion.com.au

Scotchmans Hill Pinot Gris is a defining white wine of the Bellarine Peninsula, grown in a cool maritime setting just north of Port Phillip Bay where ocean breezes, long daylight hours and slow ripening create wines of freshness, texture and understated power. Scotchmans Hill was founded in the early 1980s by the Browne family, who were among the true pioneers of the Bellarine Peninsula, recognising early on that this coastal strip was ideally suited to cool climate varieties. The vineyards sit on gently rolling slopes of sandy loam over limestone and clay, soils that drain well yet retain enough moisture to support even ripening, giving Pinot Gris both generosity and balance.

Winemaker Robin Brockett has been at the helm for decades and is widely regarded as one of Victoria’s most thoughtful and consistent hands. His approach is all about restraint, clarity and allowing site to lead rather than chasing overt ripeness or trends. Under Brockett’s guidance, Scotchmans Hill has built a reputation for wines that age gracefully and speak clearly of their coastal origins. Pinot Gris has become one of the estate’s signature wines, handled to emphasise fruit purity, gentle texture and food friendliness rather than sweetness or heaviness.

In the glass the wine shows a pale straw colour with a subtle copper hue. Aromas open with ripe pear, nashi, white peach and citrus peel, supported by soft floral notes and a faint almond and savoury nuance. The palate is generous yet finely structured, layering orchard fruit with a rounded, mouth filling texture balanced by fresh acidity and a clean, lightly saline finish that reflects the nearby ocean influence. It is exceptionally versatile at the table, pairing beautifully with seafood, roast chicken, pork, creamy dishes and soft cheeses, and it also has the balance to develop over three to five years, gaining more nutty and savoury complexity while retaining its freshness.

Scotchmans Hill Pinot Gris is a quietly confident wine, shaped by the Browne family’s pioneering vision and Robin Brockett’s steady, thoughtful winemaking, and it remains one of the Bellarine Peninsula’s most reliable and expressive whites.