Single vineyard MV6 clone Pinot Noir, from a very special site at Red Hill. Like all great growers, the founders of Portsea Estate were long established graziers, with a view to turning over their most auspicious paddocks to viticulture. Pinot Noir grows magnificently under the propitious confluence of cold yet sunny climes around Red Hill, treated to a timely maceration for optimal uptake of cheeky blush hues. Winsomely perfumed and rakishly pink, a judicious term of maturation in seasoned oak introduces savouryness and softens the crisp fruit acidity.

Establishment of Portsea Estate was born out of an adoration for the illustrious growths of Burgundy. A long family association with neighbouring pastoralists saw the acquisition of Tintagel farm along Portsea Ocean Beach in 1956, a place of undulating paddocks and sweeping views over tempestuous Bass Strait. Immediately recognizable as Portsea Estate, its inviting bouquet of mixed berry fruits, rose petals and forest floor, are all underpinned by luxurious earthy minerality, elegantly balanced by perfectly attenuated acidity and finely grained tannins over polished French oak.

Made of Mornington, a deeply engaging, immediately accessible Pinot Noir from a single, low yielding vineyard at Red Hill. The founders of Portsea Estate share a history with local growers which dates back to colonial times, they saw the birth of Mornington viticulture and are intimate with all the leading vignerons. Sourcing the finest fruit is a challenge, but Portsea Estate know where all the best vines are found. Redolent of raspberry and rose, a punnet of dark berry flavours unravel over the soft, beautifully rounded palate, Mornington Pinot of exquisite balance and juicy freshness.

Mornington's most intrepid winemaker, Sandro Mosele deals only with the most exceptional sites and finest fruit. He knows the Peninsula better than anybody, his meticulously managed viticultural program produces low yields of the highest quality Pinot Noir, endowed with gossamer tannins and an intensity of flavour, to be artisanally crafted into regional benchmarks. A multi layered savoury, bucolic style of Mornington Pinot Noir, unfiltered yet refined, to accompany polenta quail, rare juicy duck or pink tournedoes of fresh salmon.

A single acre of Pinot Noir, Morillon is the original planting at Port Phillip Estate, an endowment of charming old vines in exceptional balance. The iron and magnesium rich, weathered basalt soils, impart a savoury, earthy minerality to the wine, a luxurious influence of terroir which supports the aromatic cherry fruits and Asian spice. Enthusiasts of Port Phillip who have visited the vineyard, may detect the essence of saffron milk caps within the palate and bouquet, a unique mushroom which grows around the roots of the old conifer stand below Morillon block.

The Balnarring property is one of Port Phillip's more recent acquistions, two and a half hectares of vine which yield a conspicuously pastoral style of Pinot Noir. Foliage, minerals and twig appeal in equal measure, Balnarring articulates the nuances of vineyard and countryside, it will excite true pinotphiles and appeal to enthusiasts who delight in wines which can evoke a sense of actually being there. Its herbes de Provence and succulent acid tannin structure will court a crispily skinned duckling and match her moist meat with a fine length of cherry ripeness.

Three generations of the Pooley family have grown up amongst the difficile vineyards of Coal River Valley. Here is a place that grows Pinot Noir of marvelous complexity, the ancient terrains and lowly latitudes make a mean microclime for a bounty of the most stubborn harvests. Priority is given to the sanctity of the soil, take care of mother nature and she will reward you with simply awesome Pinot Noir. Redolent of violets, cranberries and soy, the lip smacking fruitiness of black cherry cola, driven by the stalk of whole bunch ferments, aged in a cosset of the finest French oak.

Planted in the 1980s, Cooinda Vale is constrained by a shallow rooting depth which limits vigor and limits the vines to low yields of the highest quality Pinot Noir. Grapes are completely whole bunch fermented through the action of wild indigenous yeasts, pressed to a luxuriously high proportion of new French oak barriques for a timely ten months of age. Tightly wound with black pepper, stalky tannin and blue berry redolence, its punchy strawberry jube fruits, seasoned by bay leaf, shitake and red gravel undertones. A mere hundred dozen are made.

At just three kilometres from Frederick Henry Bay, Butchers Hill can count on the sobering maritime winds to challenge the vines and restrict the harvest to small yields of the tastiest fruit. The winemaking is unhurried, wild ferments and good oak complete a curvaceous cuvée. It's Pinot for the punctilious, the sugars are intense, the textures satin smooth, the tannins toothsome and assured. Its crimson purple countenance, presages ripe raspberries, roses and fragrance of bay, a shave of ginger and sprinkling of soy, lingering over a length of crunchy cherry acids and glossy graphite tannin.

Poole’s Rock are crafted by the highly awarded Cockfighter's Ghost team, they know their work well and embrace the philosophy that great wines really are made in the vineyard. Not a bad effort for a Pinot Noir that's grown and vintaged in Tamar Valley but actually made at the Cockfighter's Ghost wineworks at Pokolbin in the heart of Hunter Valley. Established by a McQuarie banker who knows his wine, nothing short of the finest Pinot Noir has been sourced to be treated to an extravagant, no expense spared vinification.