Ballewindi Pinot Noir 2008 (Mornington Peninsula, Vic)
$28, Screwcap Luxe (a good looking screwcap), 14%?

Crafted by the Mornington Master, Sandro Mosele, this is a Vintage Cellars exclusive product, featuring in their current catalogue at $20.99. Good buying at that price, though pushing it perhaps at $28.

Bright ruby red in colour, this exudes typically attractive, ripe red Pinot fruit aromatics in a pretty, delicious, warm year style. The bottle I tried had been open for a while and showed just a twinge of oxidation, but there was no doubting that musky, lightly sappy, generous & open red fruit attraction.

On the palate its sweet fruited, yet without any notion of sugary sweetness, just obviously well ripened fruit. Save for some stemmy whole bunch characters, the palate follows the pretty, forward nose with a light to medium bodied expression of Mornington Pinot. It’s not the most intense wine, but it is quite well formed and has genuine Pinosity.

As a complete package, there is much to like here. It’s a perfect dinner party Pinot, with all the good bits about Pinot highlighted, without the challenging structure/the odd gamey whiff to turn non Pinotphiles off, whilst still retaining enough character and interest to keep the fans happy. I’d be drinking this sooner too.

Good stuff. 17.5