Description
Hurley Vineyard wraps north to east around the crest of a little volcanic hill in Balnarring on the Mornington Peninsula of Victoria, Australia. Kevin Bell and Tricia Byrnes are immersed in the task of showcasing what their 3 differing single vineyard plots or climats can express. Burgundy clearly inspired them to this endeavour, not to mimic the wines from the Cote d’Or in terms of taste but the ethos of single site expressions, terrior driven wines. Planted in 1998 and 1999 the estate has 3.43 hectares of Pinot Noir across 3 clearly defined climats: Lodestone, Hommage and Garamond.
Kevin says: “Our principles are: organic viticulture, non-irrigation, low yields and true expression of the terroir of a vineyard and the individual climats within a vineyard”.
Hurley Vineyard’s position receives abundant sunshine and free-moving air, yet is well-protected from strong winds by 100 year old pine trees and the surrounding topography. The hill is capped by stony, red-brown earth. This ‘Older Volcanic’ soil type is quick to warm and slow to cool, and retains moisture and drains freely.
Winemaking consists of hand-picked fruit arriving to the winery where grapes are cooled overnight before 100% destemmed whole berries (no whole-bunch) go into 2 ton open top fermenters. Pre-ferment maceration cold soak of approximately one week before fermentation with natural yeasts. Pieage twice a day then post ferment maceration 5 to 7 days vintage dependent. Gravity fed into a basket press then into barrel for aging. Kevin and Tricia are passionately committed to one cooper, Sirugue, based in Nuit St George. Kevin highlights that he loves the fact the staves are air-dried for a minimum of 4 years before they are used for the barrels, giving the wood time to season and low toasting. 1/4 to 1/3 new oak for the elevage of each wine, 20 months approx total aging, no racking at any stage until bottling and under gravity.
The Garamond vineyard is east facing and the last to be picked each year. It’s the coolest site given its exposure and is protected from the prevailing winds from SW and West coming across the valley behind the estate. Kevin is passionate about the importance of picking parcel by parcel across this vineyard, despite the vineyard only being 1.2 hectares in size. All planted with MV6 Clone. Kevin says of this vineyard and this wine “.. A beautiful vineyard, it is as if Garamond captures the features of Lodestone and Hommage then adds those that are especially its own to produce an other-worldly wine ..”
“Garamond exudes effortless style. It ripens evenly and is always harvested last. It is classical. In this wine, the fragrance of Hurley Vineyard is the perfume of the boudoir. It is a step up in complexity and intensity. In the palate, there is usually an array of soft, red fruits, plus meat, mushrooms and cake spice. It is succulent, creamy and sweet, but balanced by lively acidity. The wine usually tastes of red minerals and has fine, silky tannins. There is often toffee. The palate is typically tight and firm in its youth, opening up as time goes on. Garamond is complete, ends fresh and lives long.” Kevin Bell.
Kevin and Tricia were thrilled with the 2021 vintage describing it as a dream season but unfortunately the yields were down 50% on previous vintages! After the anomaly that was the very warm 2019 vintage (producing fuller bodied wines with high alcohol) 2021 has seen the return to Hurley’s classical style in all its glory. Such was the quality of the grapes that no Estate label was made, all fruit went into each single vineyard label – we think all three single vineyard wines are the finest releases we can remember from this top shelf estate.. not sure Pinot can get much better than these!
About the 2021 by winemaker, Kevin Bell “The fruit was harvested by hand on 18 March 2021, fermented under the action of indigenous yeasts, basket pressed after twenty-one days in vat and bottled in November 2022 after twenty months in barrel (one quarter new). More like garnet. This has an intensely fragrant nose of flowers, raspberries, black cherries and the forest floor. Medium bodied but more structured than its siblings, the palate experience is one of ripe (not overripe) red cherries, currents and red plums. The tannins are silky and powdery. The finish is ultra-long and persistent, flaring at the back of the palate. This is elegantly framed, very layered and packed with detail. Alc 13.3%.”
96 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review “Medium-full colour with a trace of purple in the rim, the bouquet leads with mineral/ironstone nuances, savoury underbrush/forest-floor and earthy notes beneath; hints of fivespice and smoke. The palate is full and deep, concentrated and sapid, with rich but savoury fruit that is anything but simplistic/fruity. A very serious pinot noir indeed. Very long, firm finish; lots of cellaring potential.”
RRP $121 Our Special Price $99.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
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