Lodestone Pinot Noir

Hurley Vineyard Lodestone Pinot Noir is sourced from Lodestone Vineyard, named after the abundant magnetite iron mineral in the soil. It is the difficult child, full of energy from the direct sun that comes from its northerly aspect.

The wine is one of Hurley's three single vineyard Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noirs. Their winemaking is identical so that the influence of each site on the final taste is clear.

Handpicking begins close to first light. After cooling overnight, the fruit is destemmed into open vats and the berries are soaked in their own juice. Fermentation is with wild yeasts and twice daily hand plunging.

After post-ferment maceration, the wine is basket pressed and sent to new and seasoned French oak. It undergoes malolactic fermentation and is aged on lees in barrel for 18-20 months.

The wine is racked once before it is bottled without filtration. A further six months of bottle ageing follows.

Medium garnet, Hurley Vineyard Lodestone Pinot Noir has briary fruit flavours enveloped in silky tannins. Racy acidity provides length. Cellaring potential is 10 years.