The soils of the Red Hill vineyard exemplify the tholeiitic basalts of the Eocene period, when the volcanic activity extruded throughout the Red Hill, Main Ridge and Merricks areas.
These iron-rich ferrosols give us the well-drained, moderately vigorous clay loams that are expressed in the pure bright and aromatic wines from this property.
The Chardonnay block at Port Phillip Estate’s Red Hill vineyard consists of three parcels. The largest section (1.3 hectares) is the oldest, at 27 years. A smaller planting of 0.3 hectares was added seven years later. A third, as yet unproductive, area of more closely planted vines was established in 2013.
The site has deep soils with great water-holding capacity, so the vines require very little irrigation throughout Summer. The cool evenings of Red Hill’s maritime climate and cold air flow down the hill help maintain the wine’s hallmark acidity.
Citrus notes of orange, tangelo, and lemon peel together with attractive suggestions of flint and oatmeal reveal themselves on the nose. The palate is pure, intense and taut, with powerful lemon (fresh and preserved) and white stone fruit flavours driving the long palate into a piercing and chalky finish. This wine is somewhat reticent in its youth and will greatly benefit from time in the cellar.
“It’s another beauty under this label. Refined power. White peach, mineral, spicy oak, grapefruit and toast. It’s wine of impact and persistence. It has an extra something. It flings authoritatively through the finish. It’s beautiful.”
94+ points Campbell Mattinson winefront.com.au July 2019
Full, bright yellow-gold; a very complex bouquet with some reduction. The palate takes over with drive and freshness courtesy of citrussy acidity, oak in the background. Excellent value.
96 points - James Halliday, Published 01 August 2020