Vintage
2018
ABV
13.6%
Wine Type
Red
Wine Style
Still
Wine Description
A warm site situated at the northern end of the Peninsula, with an elevation of 30 metres above sea level and a gentle northern slope. Clay loam soils prevail. This is a powerful site, which typically gives structured and dark fruited wines.
"A highly aromatic wine displaying immense complexity. Blackberry and kirsch notes combine with graphite, cherry, and earthy undertones. There’s a whole-bunch floral and fragrant perfume hovering together with some subtle dried herbs, black olive and root vegetables. The palate is structured but shows restraint and elegance as the saturating fruits dissolve into the savoury finish." Simon Black
Accolades
96 Points, James Halliday (2020)
95 Points Steve Leszczynski (2021)
Winemaker's Bio
Approaching his 12th vintage as Montalto winemaker, Simon Black has a tremendous grounding and recognition for the vineyards that provide the life-blood to the Montalto winery, together with a meticulous understanding of how to vinify and capture the potential of each site. Following his graduation in Oenology from Charles Sturt University in 1996, Black travelled extensively, nationally and internationally, honing his craft. It was inevitable that his love of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir would eventually see him settle on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
He is a Len Evans Tutorial graduate and was also a Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year finalist in 2015.
The ongoing search for wine-perfection is what drives Black:
“I may get 40 vintages to apply my craft. If the wine Gods are friendly and the planets align, one in ten of these might produce grapes of exceptional quality, leaving only 4 opportunities in my career to make truly great wine. The quest feeds the fascination.”
