These days, it seems that any winery releasing their flagship wines for under three figures simply isn't trying. And yet Kooyong puts outs an array such as these for just $75. $60 for the Chardies. Hardly seems fair. Grapes for this wine are sourced from a single block of just 0.57 hectares within the Meres Vineyard. This is their most exposed vineyard, leading to low yields. The soils are a mix of loamy topsoil, not as loamy as the Haven and other pinot vineyards, but having more clay. This all tends to provide a more red-fruited style, and so it is. Fermented in large-format concrete tanks, there is a portion of whole bunches. Native yeasts are used and the ferment lasted 16 days. The wine was then pressed into French oak barriques (23% new), followed by malo. Maturation was over 14 months, before bottling without any fining or filtration.
A lovely pale crimson colour here. Red fruits are immediately apparent, as to be expected from this vineyard. This is finely structured. There are florals and sour cherry notes which move to cherry pit characters. Early complexity is evident, as is plenty of bright acidity. This is a fresh, vibrant and elegant pinot, which has impressive length and maintains its intensity and the flavours the entire length of the journey. Should age and improve for five to ten years. 95.
