Hurley Vineyards - Mornington Peninsula's Pinot Specialist
On tasting for free this Saturday the 11th July - tickets here.
The 2024 Pinot Noir’s from Hurley are poised expressions from the Peninsula - detailed fruit, gentle structure with aromatic and textural finesse that the Mornington has become world renowned for. The wines carry a savoury and mineral backbone yet allow for floral, earth and delicate spiced nuance to permeate.
The style draws heavily from a Burgundian ethos - Exacting precision in the vineyard, a focus on clonal difference, small yields, considered elevage and allowing site and soil – Terroir (red volcanic and strong ironstone presence) to deliver what the season dictates.
Enjoy now or in the coming years. Mitch Milicich, FWC
Hurley 'Estate' Pinot Noir 2024
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Hurley Vineyard Pinot Noir is estate grown and made. The “Estate” wine is a barrel selection of fruit from the single sites that is declassified according to each vintage. Hurley Vineyard wraps around the north-east crest of a little volcanic hill. It has three climats: Lodestone, Hommage and Garamond. It is sunlit and airy but protected from the wind by the surrounding topography. Winery Note
There’s complexity to this release, there’s a silken feel to it, and most importantly there’s a lovely even glide throughout, the latter extending appreciably through the finish. I wish that I could leave the review there, because that’s all anyone needs to know. But some people like to hear individual flavour descriptors, so here goes: undergrowth, toast, a bell clear expression of red cherry, a saucy smokiness, rose petals with a gentle decay to them, whispers of dry tobacco. Tannin is fine, just assertive enough, and effectively works as a conduit to the progress of the flavour ongoing. For reasons of complexity, length and mouthfeel, I would place this among the best Hurley Vineyard wines that I’ve tried. 95 pts, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
Lifted cherry cola and alpine herb form a poised nose. The palate is a quietly tense yet rich and loaded with lengthy flavour and exuberance. The fruit feels glossy with polish, svelte tannin and a gentle twiggy savoury finale. Give the wine some air before enjoying. Mitch Milicich, FWC
This is mid-garnet and has a heady and pristine nose of black cherries and pomegranate with the perfume of roses and vanilla supported by a little earth underneath. The medium-bodied palate is super silky and clean with flavours of cherries and spice that are focussed and penetrating rather than robust and bold. The tannins are very fine and, in structure, this wine is well framed rather than tightly bound. The racy natural acidity drives the wine along a straight line from front to back towards a flaring, long finish of black cherries and dark spice. To 2035. Kevin Bell, Winemaker & Owner |
Hurley 'Lodestone' Pinot Noir 2024
Lodestone comprises 1.4 ha of northerly aspect. It is full of energy from the direct sun. This is a powerful climat and capable of anything. It is the difficult child. We submit to its essential nature and hope it accepts our guidance. This vineyard seems to race ahead of us every vintage, a danger to itself and us. But it always rewards our efforts. It has more rock and stones in the soil than Hommage and Garamond. Ripeness is never a problem here. It has the modern Dijon clones 114, 115 and 777, and the wonderful MV6 (see under Garamond below). It was 90% planted in 1999 (clones 114, 115 and MV6). The rest was planted in 2004 (clone 777). Lodestone the name comes from Magnetite, an iron mineral which is abundant in our soil. Lodestone also means principle, which reminds us of the principle of terroir, which keeps us focussed on the soil.
Of the four Hurley Vineyard pinots noirs released this year, this is the one that I’ll take home with me. They’re all excellent but this one just has the balance of all the various components arranged so impeccably. It’s the perfect mix of fruit and undergrowth, earth and wood, tannin and pure, lively juice. There’s a chalky, minerally character to the finish, in particular, though this aspect is present throughout – even as it lays on a fair amount of silken charm. This is great stuff. 95 pts, Campbell Mattinson
Distinct mandarin and cirtus aromas with earthy, red apple and fleshy appeal. The wine presents with a cream texture, a calm demeanour, dusty with undertones of sauvage. Lovely flow and ease with a slightly loose structure. Mitch Milicich, FWC
Lodestone is the warmest of the single vineyards, and is always harvested first. Accordingly, the wine can be powerful and concentrated, but not coarse or extracted. Its four clones enhance its natural complexity. Lodestone is earthy to the nose and sweet to the palate. It is usually moreish and satisfying. The fruit is darker in character than Hommage and Garamond, and the tannins more evident, reflecting the heavier, rockier, clayey soil. There is often a hint of dried sage. Winery Note
Hurley 'Garamond' Pinot Noir 2024
Garamond comprises 1.2 ha of easterly aspect. It gets the gently warming morning sun. It exudes peace, calm and fecundity. It is the good child. It sets well, but does not overcrop. It is balanced in every way. After shoot thinning, we do very little in Garamond, except to genuflect. Winery Note
It’s touch and go as to whether there’s too much oak here but give it time and such concerns will dissipate. There’s no question though that the fruit itself and the length of the finish are in excellent shape. Cedar, red and black cherry, swings of earth and undergrowth and an infusion of woodsmoke. There’s power and there’s confidence to this wine; it has cellar-worthiness written all over it. In time it will be a beauty. 95 pts, Campbell Mattinson
Garamond is East facing and the last to be picked each year. The coolest site given its exposure, protected from the prevailing winds from the SW and West coming across the valley behind the estate. Kevin is passionate about picking parcel by parcel across this vineyard despite it being only 1.2 hectares. All planted with MV6 clone. The name honours the artisanal ethic of Renaissance typographer Claude Garamond, who designed the font Hurley use on all their labels. Garamond was 26 years old in 2024, and it shows.
"Garamond exudes effortless style. It ripens evenly and is always harvested last. It is classical. In this wine, the fragrance of Hurley Vineyard is the perfume of the boudoir. It is a step up in complexity and intensity. In the palate, there is usually an array of soft, red fruits, plus meat, mushrooms and cake spice. It is succulent, creamy and sweet, but balanced by lively acidity. The wine usually tastes of red minerals and has fine, silky tannins. There is often toffee. The palate is typically tight and firm in its youth, opening up as time goes on. Garamond is complete, ends fresh and lives long. To 2045."
Kevin Bell, Winemaker & Owner
