Follow up Vintage for the Mornington's Elanto Vineyards
It’s truly exciting to have been on board with this producer since their very early days. Tasting the new 2024's last week sees them already improving on the very high bar they set for themselves with their inaugural release. Thank you to all our fantastic customers who came along and made it a very enjoyable evening. These wines are now available and come highly recommended from us. See below for some fantastic reviews.
Elanto Chardonnay 2024
A blend of the 3 Chardonnay blocks: Verge, Buckshot and Seawinds. Each vineyard picked and vinified separately. The fruit was hand-sorted and then whole-bunch pressed with the juice run direct to a mix of new and older French oak barriques. A natural fermentation completed over the coming months. In total the wine spent 10 months in barrel before being transferred to large concrete vats for a further 2 months’ maturation before bottling.
The Elanto vineyard – at Balnarring on the Mornington Peninsula – is 10.6 hectares of 11,111 vines each hectare, which equates to a vineyard made up of 117, 777 individual vines. This is the second release of a chardonnay from this remarkable vineyard. It’s made by Sandro Mosele. 85% of this release went through malo where very little of the 2023 release did. This is seriously good. The intensity of fruit is the thing, and the associated length, though there’s a keen textural element and just plenty of wow factor besides. Yellow peach, citrus, nougat, honeycomb and lemon blossom notes charge thoughout. There’s a lot of fruit, a deal of acidity, and a sizeable serve of oak, but all work together and all feel commanding. 96 points. Drink 2027-2032+ - Campbell Mattinson, Wine Front.
A terrific follow up to the inaugural release, coming out with more weight and body. Mid-straw gold and bright. Floral and waxy with lemon, spiced stone fruit, brown spices and honeycomb – lots within yet definitely in the savoury spectrum. Fuller bodied, rich, almost al dente with its phenolics and layers of texture via creamy, nutty lees. It’s detailed yet supple, with a succulence thanks to the all-important uplifting acidity. Moreish and compelling. 96 points. - Jane Faulkner, Wine Companion.
Elanto Pinot Noir 2024
‘A blend of the 5 Pinot Noir blocks. Each vineyard was picked and vinified separately. The fruit was first chilled and then sorted and destemmed into concrete vats with a small (3–5%) selection of whole bunches. A cold soak followed by natural fermentation completed in vat before pressing after 25–30 days on skins. The wines were raised in a mix of new and older French oak barriques. Malolactic conversion completed late spring and the wine spent a total of 11 months in barrel before bottling.’
What a beguiling wine – only the second release and showing complexity far beyond its years. It’s certainly youthful and pretty with heady aromas of florals and autumn leaves with flavours of wild strawberries, dark cherries and pips, chinotto, Middle Eastern spices and some poached rhubarb, too. The medium-bodied palate is evenly poised, laden with filigree tannins (lots of them) and energising acidity; oak (25% new) completely integrated. This has depth, some grip, a little amaro bitterness on the finish and, of utmost importance, it will age but it’s oh-so pleasing to drink today. 97 points. - Jane Faulkner, Wine Companion.
