August 2023 Releases: Medhurst Estate 2017 Pinot Noir $55 & Cobaw Ridge 2016 Pinot Noir $55

Medhurst Estate 2017 Pinot Noir $55

MEDHURST 2017 ESTATE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR A pure expression of site and season. SEASON: The 2017 growing season was cool and mild, producing wines with wonderful acidity, flavours and fine boned slinky tannins. Due to such mild conditions and a relatively overcast summer vintage began three weeks later then in 2016 and 2015 on March 5th. The wines show great poise, fruit flavour and energy, another classic Yarra Valley vintage in the making. WINEMAKING: Fruit for the Estate vineyard Pinot Noir was grown on two quite different sites; a combination of south facing slope on the back C block, and the North facing B block. Hand-picked on the 9th and 10th of March respectively, the fruit was kept in the coolroom overnight. One fermenter was 100% whole bunches (10% of final blend from the warmer B block) and the others were entirely de-stemmed and tipped into 1t to 4t fermenters. Once fermentation commenced after the fourth day (indigenous yeasts finally co-operating), the cap was pumped over very gently twice per day and remained on its skins for 12-16 days. At the completion of fermentation, the wine was pressed to tank and then racked to French oak barrels (26% new) for malolactic fermentation. 10 months in oak, before being bottled February 13th, 2018. 210 dozen produced. TASTING NOTES: Brilliant, enticing cherry red, with a lovely crimson hue. The nose speaks of place, under the shadow of the Warramatte Ranges, dark cherry, licorice, exotic red fruits and violets and spice it is both detailed and abundant. The southern aspect of the blend and the extremely low crop has ensured a concentrated and precise wine with a subtle and fine palate, whilst the fruit from the northern aspect is giving supple fine ’sweet tannins’ - balance is assured here. Pinot noir is classically matched with duck and pork dishes, as they have the depth of flavour and texture that works so well with the fine tannins of the variety. TECHNICAL: Vineyard: Medhurst Estate Vineyard, Gruyere Block: C Block, B Block Clone: MV6 Soil: Mountain derived brown/grey loams Alcohol: 13.0 % pH: 3.63 TA: 5.4

Cobaw Ridge 2016 Pinot Noir $55

Cobaw Ridge Philosophy Our wine being allowed to express the season in which it was grown, 100% estate grown, made and bottled. Our commitment to quality in all aspects of vine management and wine making. All vineyard operations performed by the vignerons. Great wine is made in the vineyard, not the winery. Utilising the natural balance of our vines, most more than 25 years of age. No cultivation mid row, maintaining the natural grasses by slashing and giving back organic material to the soil. The vines are rigorously hand-pruned to reduce crop level to ensure quality. Vertically trained and hand- canopy managed to enhance fruit exposure to the sun and wind so as to reduce diseases and to promote better riper fruit without vegetative flavours. All vines are netted against birds to ensure fruit is in pristine condition. Hand-picked to respect the integrity of the grape. Drip irrigation used to water the vines, only used just to maintain soil moisture, depending on rainfall. Enough to maintain the canopy to ensure ripening. Cobaw Ridge Winemaking Philosophy Low cropped mature vines utilized. Fruit treated with respect, soft destemming, and membrane pressed, so to ensure full ripe tannins not harsh extractive or over worked. Hand plunged to softly extract maximum colour and flavours. Small open fermenters used to gain maximum complexity between vats. The wine allowed to go through full natural malo lactic fermentation in oak the summer following vintage, which produces a fuller softer effect. All wine matures in barriques for 12 to 24 months, with the introduction of 25 to 30% new barriques each year. Not too much new oak so as to let terrior speak and not the barrel. With minimal handling pre bottling all the red wine is neither fined nor filtered prior to bottling. No acid additions are required, just low levels of sulphur dioxide at point of bottling. Nothing added, nothing taken away. All this goes back to good cool climate winemaking. Everything is done so as to promote and preserve the full integrity of our unique vineyards terrior. The 2016 Pinot Noir has a bright cherry red colour, and is not fined or filtered, so the wine exhibits a distinct textural element which we love. Let us call it liquid velvet. There are aromas of ripe strawberries and freshly shaved pencil, leading into a palate that has a unique plushness due to the beautifully judged tannin structure. Rich red fruit flavours and trademark Macedon Ranges acidity round out the finish.