Red Hill Estate Cool Climate Pinot Noir 2024 | Mornington Peninsula

Winemaking Notes

Red Hill Estate Cool Climate Pinot Noir 2024 is a carefully crafted blend assembled from a range of Mornington Peninsula vineyards, with each parcel receiving different treatments to maximise complexity and character. One parcel was cold-soaked at zero degrees on skins for two days before fermentation — gently extracting colour and aromatics whilst preserving fresh fruit character. Other parcels were fermented straight on skins for 8–10 days for deeper extraction of tannins and flavour compounds, with fermentation temperatures carefully controlled between 20–25°C to maintain fruit purity. Once fermentation was complete, parcels were pressed and racked to a balance of new and old French oak barrels for maturation — with a portion kept un-oaked and back-blended later to bring brightness and freshness to the final wine. A thoughtful, meticulous approach that has resulted in a Pinot Noir of genuine structure, depth, and elegance.

Vintage Conditions

The 2024 vintage on the Mornington Peninsula delivered excellent conditions for Pinot Noir — the Peninsula’s unique maritime influence, shaped by the moderating effects of Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait, providing the cool temperatures and extended ripening period essential for developing complex aromatics and elegant structure. Grapes achieved optimal physiological ripeness whilst retaining the vibrant natural acidity and fresh fruit character that are hallmarks of Mornington Peninsula viticulture. The diversity of vineyard sites — each with different soil types, aspects, and mesoclimates — provided the winemaking team with a varied palette of fruit characters to work with during blending, resulting in a wine of remarkable depth and complexity.