Description
Port Phillip Estate is a specialist Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir producer located on the Mornington Peninsula, one of Australia’s foremost cool-climate maritime wine regions. Meticulous sustainable viticulture and sensitive minimalist winemaking produce site-expressive wines of elegance, complexity and structure. Port Phillip Estate wines are domain grown, vinified and bottled.
“We endeavour to grow the highest quality fruit that expresses the terroir of each vineyard. Our sustainable farming practices are driven by the belief that the health of our vineyard soils, and thus vines, underpin wine quality. All grapes are hand pruned, shoot thinned and hand picked.” Winemaker Glen Hayley
“Since becoming chief winemaker at Port Phillip Estate a few years ago, Glen Hayley has taken the estate’s already good wines to new levels of quality and detail.” Max Allen
The Port Phillip Estate ‘Red Hill’ vineyard is located on the Mornington Peninsula at Red Hill, on Eocene volcanic soils. Our wines are made from domain grown, handpicked grapes and aim to manifest terroir: the integration of our geology and soils with the macroclimate of our region, the mesoclimates of the various sites within our vineyard and the weather of the annual grape growing season. Our cultural operations in the vineyard and practices in the winery endeavour to articulate these unique characteristics diligently, respectfully and without artifice.
The Chardonnay block at Port Phillip Estate’s Red Hill vineyard consists of three parcels. The largest area (1.3 hectares) is the oldest, at 29 years. A smaller area of 0.3 hectares was planted seven years later. A third area of more closely planted vines was established in 2013. The Red Hill vineyard is dominated by red basalt, yet the Chardonnay block is planted in an area of sandy grey loam over yellow clay. The site has deep soils with great water-holding capacity, so the vines require very little irrigation throughout Summer. Nestled on a hill facing East, the block’s aspect exposes the fruit to maximum morning sunshine but protects the fruit from the afternoon Summer sun, allowing it to ripen in a cooler environment. The cool evenings of Red Hill’s maritime climate and cold air flow down the hill help maintain the wine’s hallmark acidity. The grapes were gently whole-bunch pressed directly into French oak barriques (15% of which were new) and fermentation occurred spontaneously with ambient yeasts. Following fermentation the wine was aged on lees (without battonage) for 11 months. It was bottled without fining and with minimal filtration.
About the 2023 from the winemaker: “On the nose, it offers a bouquet of ripe stone fruits such as white peach and apricot, complemented by citrus notes of lemon zest and a hint of lime. There are also nuances of honey and toasted nuts, along with a touch of oak spice.
“The palate is elegantly balanced with a rich, creamy texture. Flavours of ripe pear and juicy melon are at the forefront, supported by vibrant citrus undertones. The wine shows a well-integrated oak influence, adding a layer of vanilla and buttery toast. Its acidity is bright and refreshing, providing a clean, crisp finish. The finish is long and satisfying, with lingering notes of citrus and subtle minerality that adds complexity and depth.
“The 2023 is a refined and well-structured wine, showcasing a harmonious blend of fruit richness and delicate oak integration. It’s perfect for pairing with a range of dishes, including seafood, poultry or creamy pasta.” Winemaker, Tim Perrin.
Reviews for 2022 … 93 points, Jane Faulkner for Halliday Wine Commpanion“A very satisfying drink with its lemon, stone fruit and woodsy spices all coming together with a layer of creamy lees and cedary oak. There’s also some flinty sulphides adding a savoury, lipsmacking character. It’s not the most complex wine, but it feels composed, gentle in a way, and delicious.”
95 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review “This winery has two fine 2021 subregional chardonnays, the other from Balnarring on the Westernport Bay side of the peninsula. This one, from the Red Hill high country, is my pick of the two. Light to mid straw-yellow with an intense struck flint aroma, smoky mineral nuances adding to the deliciously refined pear/apple/nectarine fruit. There’s a lot of flinty reduction but the wine is superbly put together and satisfying, and has the fruit power to carry the artifact characters. Long, refreshing finish. “
RRP $45 Our Price $37.99
(Want more than 6? Click here for Special Buy)
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.