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

Red berries and dark cherry dominate the nose, firm mid palate tannins lead to pleasing acidity on the back. Opens a touch reductively, which isn’t unusual for Hoddles Creek Pinot (or Yarra Valley Pinot for that matter) in its youth. Sweet and sour cherries with some darker fruits as well. Cinnamon, star anise and pepper. Sap, bark and  undergrowth. It’s medium-bodied with sensual satin-like texture and fairly assertive tannin. Some stony minerality, snapped twigs and a complexing herbal note on the back-palate. The finish is sustained and impressive. It just needs time. Big emphasis on the plus sign here. 92+ Very Good Wine Will Eat Itself

“One of the most eagerly-awaited wines of the year, from a very good season. Hoddles Creek is a stable of an Australian pinot noir-lover’s diet. This release needs time – and given it, it’ll be cracking. For all its reserve, it still manages to ooze class. Sheer texture. Cherry-plum, mint, sourness and spiciness. It’s not a sweet crowd-pleaser and yet it’s not challenging; it’s just good pinot, straight up. For now or for later, though preferably a bit more for later. Good kick of flavour as you swallow. Crying out to be left alone for a bit. But really good.” – 92+ Points Campbell Mattinson