Single Vineyard Haven 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 Haven Pinot noir is a single site wine produced from 2.98 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).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 plummy red colour. Aromas fall in the dark fruits spectrum: ripe plums and blackthorn, coppicey undergrowth, hints of asian spice and dusty sweet oak. The palate shows again the typical Haven purple fruits, buttressed by savoury herbs, a dark meatiness and emery-fine silicaceous tannins.
Cellaring
Will reward further bottle ageing.
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2009 (PDF)
2008 (PDF)
2007 (PDF)
Single Vineyard Haven Pinot Noir 2009
Reviews
THE AGE GOOD WINE GUIDE 2012
Haven, the deep voice of Kooyong pinot noir, is full of spicy intrigue in 2009, showing complex brambly fruits and lifted, spicy fragrance – quite sappy and pure. The palate casts a shell of tannin around densely fleshy dark-cherry and plum flavoured fruit. The finish is stoic and sturdy, and will unfurl in time. The final tannin wave is ultra-ripe. 94 points.
NICK STOCK
THE AUSTRALIAN WINE ANNUAL 2012
Fiery, rich and elegant, this deeply layered pinot has something of Comte de Vogue style about it. A deep, earthy and meaty bouquet of dark cherries, blood plums, brair and wood smoke is backed by a spicy note. It’s long, dark and gamey, with deep flavours of plums, cherries and blackberries underpinned by smoky notes of baked earth and animal hide, finishing with drive and persistence. 94 points
JEREMY OLIVER
JAMES HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION 2012
KOOYONG AND PORT PHILLIP ESTATE
COMBINED WINERIES OF THE YEAR 2012
Perhaps fractionally lighter colour than Ferrous; there is more emphasis here on the spicy/sappy components of the bouquet, introducing a palate of supreme intensity of flavour, drawing saliva from the mouth; this would not look out of place alongside a top-class Burgundy; fabulous length.
97 Points
JAMES HALLIDAY