Ample and dark fruited, with a smoky, savoury feel. Plenty of spice amid the berry fruits, with lovely earthy and graphite notes running through. Predominantly from Garagiste's Balnarring, Tuerong and Merricks vineyards, with a small proportion of Red Hill fruit. The grapes were sorted then destemmed--a small percentage of the Merricks portion was fermented with a 100% whole bunches--and fermented in small open fermenters using indigenous yeast, minimal hand plunging and spending 25 days on skins. The wine was aged for ten months in 10% new hogsheads with the balance being raised in older hogsheads. Unfined and unfiltered. Barnaby Flanders created the Garagiste label following his amicable split with Allies co-founder David Chapman (who continues with the Allies label). Barney now focuses on a snug range of small-batch wines from fruit sourced from the highly prized Merricks Grove vineyard, the Silverwood vineyard (Balnarring), and the Hugh Robinson vineyard in Moorooduc. Garagiste, the main label, is ably supported by delicious entry-level wines under the Le Stagiaire banner. Barnaby and Cam (Marshall) manage all aspects of the viticulture and winemaking themselves and a range of succulent, finely tuned and elegantly crafted cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is what results.

Ten Minutes by Tractor continues to be one of the true stars of the Mornington Peninsula all the way from the single vineyard wines to the regional 10X wines. Always a Pinot of utmost power with dense, dark, brooding fruit typical of the region with the great savoury balance that is evident in great examples of the variety.

Stonier produces one of the most consistent Pinots from the Mornington Peninsula. Attractive plum and cherry flavours are enhanced by some gamey undertones and smoky oak influence. Perfect with duck.

Sandro Mosele one of the great artisans with Pinot Noir is responsible for this fine example. Complex, gamey black cherry characters are interwoven with toasty oak in a wine of superb texture.

As featured on "Battle of the Vines": Ocean Eight represents really well what Mornington Peninsula can do for Pinot, Liinaa says. It has that cool climate Pinot loves its got those really nice spicy notes, like Sichuan, quail, gamey hints and Michael Aylward is totally hot (Whoops, can I say that?)

Savoury, woody spice adds greater interest to become quite intense in its cherry skin and stone flavours, with intriguing white mushroom and pepper notes in the finish.

A pronounced nose of sour cherries, figs and quince followed by a fresh floral note of violets. On the palate is soft texture with a good tannic structure and great balance between the structural components with a smokey/ charred mouthfeel that adds complexity and suggest great ageing potential. French oak and velvet tannins finish this elegant pinot noir with style. Pair with Peking duck.

Fragrant and finely structured the Yabby Lake Block 2 Pinot Noir shows enticing floral spice perfume and seductive silky texture. The fruit is handpicked, meticulously sorted and gently de-stemmed into small open fermenters. A small portion of whole bunches is included in the ferment. Maturation takes place in large French oak puncheons for 12 months.

Stonier are the pioneers of the premium region that is the Mornington Peninsula. This outstanding Pinot Noir displays pure elegance and complexity. Dark cherry fruit flavours are balanced by gamey undertones and a savoury finish.