$10499each $1259DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Circe is a metaphor for the challenges presented by Pinot Noir, a capricious grape to grow and often fickle as a wine. Very like the temptress of ancient myth, Pinot Noir remains irresistible to contemplative winemakers for its rare mutability, as no other grape can capture and articulate the uniqueness of provenance.

$3399each $407DOZEN EACH DOZEN The proprietorship at Circe are never focused on targets and deadlines, biodynamic viticulture and a love of all things natural, means that the only requirements are a healthy soil and respect for the vine. Providing a clean, ecologically balanced environment for local flora and fauna, inevitably leads to better wine.

Dan Buckle and Aaron Drummond are Mornington born and bred. They work at the illustrious Mt Langi Ghiran but find time to share the husbandry on a precious three acre vineyard on an elevated northeast ridge at Red Hill South. The Messrs Drummond and Buckle take a decidedly Burgundian approach to processing their Pinot Noir, ferments of exclusively whole bunches are foot stomped over the course of a week before filling to small oak casks. Structured and eloquent, pastoral and intense, small batch, superior vineyard Mornington Pinot at its finest.

$5199each $623DOZEN EACH DOZEN Vines were established on a chilly slope of deep red basalt volcanic soils along Hillcrest Road in 1993. Closely cropped at a little over one tonne per acre, the property yields a frugal harvest of awesome Pinot Noir. The tight, small bunches, physiological ripeness and immaculate skins are ideal for traditional whole bunch winemaking. The fully stemmed fruit is treated to a course of maceration, as ambient yeasts initiate a week of ferment, followed by several days of boots on pigeage. Batches are pressed into a selection of French oak barriques for completion of malolactic and a year's maturation on full gross lees without any racking, to preserve the integrity and eloquence of a tremendous site.

Purple scarlet red. Fragrant cherry ripe aromas, red apples and rhubarb notes, sasafras and anise spice. A multi layered palate of wild piquant raspberries, red licorice wick and frais de bois, dark anise tannins and sasafras oak in support of the textural, weight of fruit. Structured, dimensional and refined, its lifted finish resolves on a length of mineral and pebble pastoral complexity.

$3699each $443DOZEN EACH DOZEN

The winemaking at Circe is all about excellence, about maintaining the healthiest vineyards, all things are done according to best practice, with an uncompromising respect for nature. As a Mornington grower, it's not easy to get your fruit selected for Circe, the Messrs Buckle and Drummond will only consider the most outstanding parcels and there are never any quotas. Assembled from the pick of Red Hill fruit and treated to the full regimen of Burgundian traditions, a dulcetly perfumed Pinot Noir of seamless complexity and textural whole bunch richness.

$3699each $443DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Ruby purple colour. Wild strawberries abound, morello, sen-sen and stalk, rose petals and herb. A ripe palate of classy red fruit flavours, cranberries and currant cream, seasoned by undergowth, eucalypt and clove. Elegantly medium bodied, defined by its rich pinosity and pastoral appeal, its exceptionally fine line of yielding tannins in support, all the way to a warm, lingering finish.

$4999each $599DOZEN EACH DOZEN

$4399each $525DOZEN EACH DOZEN

$4399each $525DOZEN EACH DOZEN

$4399each $525DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Coldstream Hills make the quintessential Yarra Valley Pinot Noir, gentle and exquisitely balanced, well developed and engagingly complex. Whole bunch stalkiness and refined French oak add structure and interest. A gamey, earthy proposition displaying all the requisite varietal characters, a stylish wine of intensity and velvet textures, brimming with punnets of ripe berry flavours. Elegantly medium bodied, lined with silky tannins, the Pinot Noir of choice to accompany gourmandise venison, braised hare or succulently roast duck.

$2849each $341DOZEN EACH DOZEN Coldstream Hills were established in 1985 by James and Suzanne Halliday. From its initial vintage of 450 dozen, it has grown to become one of Australia's leading small wineries with a reputation that belies its size. Situated in the cool Yarra Valley, its steep, closely planted vineyards have become a signature of the region. So too have its wines, most notably a Pinot Noir which reflects a clime cooler than Bordeaux and warmer than Burgundy. Hand picked grapes from low yielding vineyards in Upper and Lower Yarra Valley are vinified to a variety of Burgundian handling techniques, including whole bunch fermentation and a term of age in a selection of choice French oak barrels. Alcohol 13.5%

Medium red, vibrant purple hues. Fragrant cherry and blueberry fruit aromas with underlying gaminess and spice. Toasty oak adds further complexity to the wine's bouquet, but does not dominate. Vibrant fruit characters of cherry, strawberry and blueberry persist on the juicy palate alongside stalky savoury notes of game, leaf and spice.

Single vineyard Pinot Noir, the Grand Cru du Bellarine. Hand picked bunches of fruit are de stemmed to small open fermenters for several days of cold soak and wild indigenous yeast vinification, hand plunged daily and pressed to oak barrel at complete dryness, followed by a course of malolactic and fifteen months maturation. The top cut of fruit from the Scotchman's Hill tally of superior vine, redolent of dark berries, forest floor and spiced cedar oak, Pinot of power, concentrated, structured and defined, a weighty palate of persistence, polish and aplomb.

$5599each $671DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Dalwhinnie established new vines to choice blocks of undeveloped land in the 1990s, just four kilometres down the road from home vineyards on the Moonambel valley floor. The younger Forest Hut blocks were pampered with care until plantings came of age. Now fully mature, these unirrigated, dry farmed and well canopied, vertically shoot positioned vines are yielding harvests of the most exquisite Pinot Noir, for a richly layered Rosé wine of creamy textures, fragrant fruit and crisp tannins.

$2199each $263DOZEN EACH DOZEN A handsomely hued pink wine fashioned from harvests of Pinot Noir grown to the cooler, slower ripening Forest Hut property. The climes are three to four degrees cooler than Dalwhinnie, all year round, so vintage arrives some three weeks later. Vines make the most of the extra time on offer to ripen grapes fully and develop vibrant fruit characters. The winemaking team know that great Pinot Noir can only come from a healthy, well pruned vine which has the proper balance of fruit to foliage for even ripening. Grapes are treated to thirty six hours maceration for optimal uptake of captivating pink hues, followed by a short term of maturation before bottling.

Very attractive pale eye of partridge red/ orange colour. Slightly savoury nose layered with strawberry fruit characters. Juicy with just the right amount of sweet berries and savoury spice flavours on the palate. The perfect accompaniement to salmon steaks or paella, foie gras, baguettes and cheese.