Single Vineyard Meres Pinot Noir 2009
Tasting Notes
Vineyard
Kooyong is located on the Mornington Peninsula at Tuerong and focuses on producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wine; which are both suited to the Peninsula’s cool maritime climate. Kooyong is a ‘domain’ in the true sense of the word and the wines are made from 100% estate grown fruit at its own on-site winery.
Vintage
Rains in the Winter of 2008 were encouraging and although budburst was early, conditions were more typical for Spring and early Summer than for the previous several years. The cool weather did compromise flowering and fruit set however, so the yield potential was low. Concurrent days of extreme heatwave conditions in early February had an understandably severe impact, sunburning fruit on the western sides of the vine rows. However, for the growth stage of the fruit at Kooyong this simply resulted in shrivel and drop of scorched berries, reducing yield further but not compromising quality. The resulting harvest was about 50% less than what is considered appropriate for Kooyong but asides from the week of freakish heat, the 2008 – 2009 growing season was essentially benign, with amenable temperatures and rainfall events occurring at appropriate intervals. The tiny yields produced wines of high natural acidity and unusually intense varietal fruit character.
Viticulture
The 2009 Kooyong Meres Pinot noir is a single site wine produced from 2.70 hectares of estate vineyard.
Winemaking
The fruit is 100% destemmed and fermented, without yeast inoculation, in open vats for 18 to 21 days. The malolactic conversion also is indigenous. The maturation period is 18 months in French oak (30% new).
Alcohol
13.0% vol
Tasting Note
Bright blood-maroon colour. Possibly a little more masculine than other recent releases of this wine, this has the pretty, aromatic red fruits of Meres but with an unusual depth and meaty complexity. Dusty herbs and focussed red fruits frame the palate and are carried by the site’s classic silkiness to length.
Cellaring
This wine will improve with age.
Tasting Notes
2009 (PDF)
2008 (PDF)
2007 (PDF)
Single Vineyard Meres Pinot Noir 2009
Reviews
THE AUSTRALIAN WINE ANNUAL 2012
This evolved and meaty pinot has a deep, faintly raisined and earthy bouquet whose scents of plums and redcurrants are backed by dark chocolate, suede leather, cloves and cinnamon. Dark and fiery, its kernelly palate of plums and prunes, currants and dark cherries overlies a fine, supple, bony undercarriage and a hint of molasses. 92 points
JEREMY OLIVER
THE AGE GOOD WINE GUIDE 2012
Meres needs plenty of air to shake a wet, wool-like shroud off aromas of dark cherries, bracken, savoury oak, North African spice and an earthy edge. The palate has a contained, simple shape, based around ripe mid-palate tannin and a solid finish. Will be interesting to see if this lifts over time. 92 points.
NICK STOCK
JAMES HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION 2012
KOOYONG AND PORT PHILLIP ESTATE
COMBINED WINERIES OF THE YEAR 2012
Perfect crimson colour; the aromas of the bouquet revolve around red cherry framed by savoury nuances; the palate is wonderfully supple and harmonious, the fruit core again of red cherry but with a host of ancillary characters drawing out on the finish.
95 Points
JAMES HALLIDAY