Hurley Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021 ‘Hommage’

Hommage is North East facing and a lot more sheltered then Lodestone from the elements. A very small plot of just over 1 Hectare planted in 1998 & 1999. Kevin and Tricia are quick to acknowledge that this vineyard was made possible from the generosity of Main Ridge Estate who offered cuttings of the G5V15 Pinot clone. They regard Main Ridge as one of the key founding estates of Mornington, hence the title ‘Hommage’.

“The fruit was harvested by hand on 17 and 18 March 2021, fermented under the action of indigenous yeasts, basket pressed after twenty-one days in vat and bottled in November 2022 after twenty months in barrel (one quarter new).

This is deeper ruby.  Here on the nose there are black cherries with herbaceous notes of sage and thyme. The palate has complex tastes of black cherries, blood plums, subtle herbaceousness and charcuterie meats.  This too is medium bodied and tightly knitted but the fruit is more squishy and the tannins are powdery making the mouthfeel sweater and softer.  It has a long finish in the palate with persistent fruit flavours and soft drying tannins.  To 2033.  Alc/vol. 13.4%.  278 dozen made” – Kevin Bell  

“This vineyard character aromatically always dances along the line of fruit and herbal/fresh green notes. 2020 was wild strawberry & rhubarb, giving both fresh red fruit and green notes but the 2021 looks a little darker on the nose, more black fruit with it’s leaves still attached :). Touch of black cherry yoghurt” – Neil – Francaboutwine

“Bright and finer boned from Hommage in 2021. Easy access, but all the right moves. Pretty perfume, red cherry, faint raspberry, sage leaf, bay leaf, sea spray, mocha. In the palate, the same, but lithe and frisky, bright and refreshing, a web of lacy, sandy tannins shaping things nicely and the finish trails away in peppery and curry leaf spice. Yummo. It’s a vibrant expression yet still holds that Hurley compact house style, or vineyard detail. Fine wine.” – 96 Points – Mike Bennie – Winefront