Two superb new Moorooduc Estate Pinot Noirs

‘I felt like I could drink these wines even before they went through malo, which is really unusual’

Kate McIntyre MW, Moorooduc Estate

The excitement was palpable. The mood infectious. Even Kate McIntyre, who is welcomingly straight-talking, couldn’t help but beam when talking about the 2012 Moorooduc Pinot Noirs this afternoon.

Given just how tricky the 2011 vintage was (a seriously difficult year for Mornington Pinot), you could forgive her enthusiasm as pure relief over an easier season. Yet that is also doing a disservice to just how fine the 2011 Moorooduc Chardonnays have turned out to be, the cool and wet season at least delivering sharply defined, minerally whites.

Still, the ’12 Pinots are irrepressible. There’s a wonderful combination of ripe fruit and perfection of structure in these wines that helps to lift them above many other Mornington Pinots. Think more tannin, more acid, less alcohol and more complex spiciness, all delivering wines that will will drink better for longer.

My sort of wines.

While I was a little distracted while tasting these wines to take really comprehensive notes, these two Pinots really deserve a mention.

Moorooduc Estate Pinot Noir 2012

The standard ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir, this is intended to be the most juicy and approachable. Fittingly, it smells the most of red cherry fruit and carries slightly softer tannins compared to the single vineyard wines. Still, that is a very high bar and this looks absolutely delicious – the red fruit complemented by a hint of hedge, cinnamon spice and black pepper. What elevates the quality is the finely drying finish, taking this from just a wine of fruit into a much more complex beast (if still about 1-3 years off its best). Superb Mornington Pinot. 18.5/20, 94/100

Moorooduc Estate McIntyre Pinot Noir 2012
The extra edge this Pinot has over the Estate is all about ‘more’ – more tannin, more fruit power, more complexity, marrying that concentrated, glacé red fruit with even more grippy tannins and some welcome bitterness. A savoury, autumnal wine that is not quite ready but packs a beautiful combination of extract and fruit. Classy wine for contemplation. 18.7/20, 95/100

Wine

Andrew Graham
Almost 25 years ago I started working in a small bottleshop, largely to buy cheap beer. There, I met my first two loves - wine and craft beer, and they took over my life. Two decades later and I spend my days as a journalist, buyer, wine show judge, marketer and drinks industry consultant.

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Two superb new Moorooduc Estate Pinot Noirs