2021 Morillon Chardonnay

2021
Morillon Chardonnay

$70

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Tasting Profile

November 2022

The Morillon Chardonnay is sourced from 0.1 hectare within the oldest Chardonnay block (1.3 hectares) at Port Phillip Estate’s Red Hill vineyard. This block was planted in 1988 on a site nestled among folds of the hilly country in Red Hill. 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. With maturity, the original block consistently produces wine with an extra level of structure, balance and intensity. In light of this, we bottle a small portion separately as the ultimate expression of Chardonnay from this vineyard. The fruit was gently whole-bunch pressed directly into French oak 228L, 350L and 500L barrels (18% of which were new), and fermentation occurred spontaneously with ambient yeasts. After fermentation, the wine was aged on lees (without battonage) for 11 months, with the only racking occurring directly prior to bottling. The wine was bottled without fining and with minimal filtration.

Superfine with complex aromas of baking spices, crème fraîche, bran, grapefruit and lime, and an underlying flinty edge. With taut and tight intensity, the

palate delivers citrus flavours that build and drive. The finish is long and powerful, with lime-infused acidity and an alluring grapefruit pithiness. While moreish now, it will significantly benefit from time in the cellar.

13.5% alc.

 

Tasting Profile 2021
Tasting Profile 2020
Tasting Profile 2019

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Reviews

Vinous

Angus Hughson

The super modern 2021 Single Block Morillon Chardonnay is extraordinarily impressive. It opens with smoky, flinty notes over a powerful, precise core of grapefruit and tightly wound oak. It is pretty embryonic, with a firm acid frame holding layers of flavour in check. The youthful, chalky texture is lifted by deft oak handling over a prodigious, although tightly wound finish. It is a sublime expression of Mornington Chardonnay with a long way to rum

96 points

Halliday Wine Companion August 2023
Jane Faulkner
Gosh, this is looking mighty good. It’s the seductive sulphides, not too much, just the flinty, smoky, minerally aspect; embarrassingly, salivating. Tight but not mean as there’s enough fruit to carry all the elements, including really creamy lees, refreshing acidity and the well-integrated oak (new barrels are minimal, about 18% all up). One of the best to date.
 
95 points

The WineFront, November 2023

Gary Walsh

From a tiny parcel planted in 1988. Plenty of struck match and funk here, but it sits well within the wine, and doesn’t spoil the spicy, limey, fennel-laced delivery of flavour. Tight and flinty, a firm crunch of citrus through more creamy savoury characters. Plenty of energy and grip, with a finish of excellent length and chalkiness, ginger and cinnamon. Excellent wine, it starts wild, and then it pulls the ripcord and delivers.

95 points

The Real Review, December 2023

Aaron Brasher

Complex aromas of grilled nuts, grapefruit pith, melon skin, just-ripe nectarine, white flowers and spice. Layered, mouth-filling and delicious. There’s an array of stone fruit, citus and a lick of nutty, tropical fruit flavours. There’s lovely weight, texture and length. A very classy and complete chardonnay

95 points

Reviews 2021
Reviews 2020
Reviews 2019

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The Vintage

A cold wet Winter, with approximately 195 mm of rain falling over June, July, and August, set up the vineyards well. A mild and early Spring followed. Conditions cooled somewhat in the lead up to flowering in early-mid November and continued throughout flowering, delaying fruit set. A milder than usual Summer slowed the phenology of the vines. Veraison in many of our parcels was in early February, approximately two to three weeks behind the five-year average. The region received several large rainfalls during late Summer, 200 mm in total, more than double that of the same period the previous year. These rainfalls were managed effectively, and the vineyard remained disease-free. Harvest commenced 11 March compared to 25 February the previous year. Weather during harvest was ideal, with cool overnight temperatures leading to very mild daytime temperatures. Our viticultural team worked steadily through the calm yet constant harvest. Yields were significantly lower than average due to the extended cool flowering period. Despite low yields, the quality of the fruit was excellent. The resulting wines are energetic, pure, and are characterised by beautiful natural acidity.
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The Vineyard

The Port Phillip Estate Red Hill vineyard is located on the Mornington Peninsula 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.

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