JM 1ST APPROACH

We hand-selected all of the grapes for this wine from the our own vineyard, which is in the Upper Yarra. The Upper Yarra is higher and cooler than Lower Yarra (Yarra Glen, Coldstream, Dixons Creek) and consequently retains more acid and flavours during the growing season. This region, has become famous for intensely-flavoured Pinot Noir grapes that produce wines with vibrant fruit character.

The rows are orientated East-West to maximise sunlight, and planted on a steep hill. The pinot noir is trellised to Scott-Henry for greater exposure and less disease pressure. The site is planted to more than 5 clones of Pinot Noir for flavor complexity in the wine. The clones are MV6, 114, 115, GSV15 and MS1. We have chosen these clones for small, flavor-intense berries, looser clusters and colour intensity. Hoddles Creek Estate

Clear red colour, and one sniff tells you what the wine is, Pinot, it just smells of, well Pinot! Very slightly sappy, but full of dark sour cherries and raspberries, with a light dusting of spice, touches of forest floor, perfumed, aromatic and correct, its a wonderfully pure Pinot nose. The palate is medium bodied, but with loads of flavour, cherries, berries, spices, a touch of spicy toasty oak. It has decent length, on the delicious finish. terrific wine and about the best value Pinot around. The auswine panel

First impression: it’s riper and smoother than I was expecting. Not overly herbal, and in essentially the same flavour spectrum you would expect of a Hoddles Creek Estate pinot noir. Light colour but dark cherry flavour, some pippy notes, some reduction, quite a bit of grip and tart acid through the finish. Oak as a helping hand, though it’s hard to nail actual oak flavours. Colour is so light it’s almost rose-esque. In terms of score I swung, through the course of an afternoon, between 88 and 91. At all times I thought it was a really interesting drink, and a high value one. For “early drinking” purposes I wouldn’t hesitating in buying. Rated : 89 Points Winefront.com.au