Elanto Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2023
The Wine
This wine is a blend of the 5 Pinot Noir vineyards (lieux-dits); Vertex, Ironstone, Chicory, Kilnside and Basalt. Each vineyard was picked and vinified separately. The fruit was first chilled and then sorted and destemmed, with a smattering of perfectly ripe whole bunches making it into the ferment, which took place in concrete tanks. A cold soak in vat took place before natural fermentation, with extended time spent on skins before pressing.
The high-density plantings have blessed the grapes with an abundance of skin tannin which allowed for more restraint in the winery, with less time on skins required than in 2023. A consequence of this reduced extraction is an aromatic cavalcade of perfumed red fruits, and a supremely balanced wine that is framed by fine-boned, chalky tannin. Following fermentation, 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. Diam 30 closure.
This gorgeous 2024 Pinot is another step towards Elanto’s greater goal - an Australian evocation of the structured, savoury expressions of classic Pinot Noir.
95 Pts Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion 'Never in a million years would I have picked the vine age given the savouriness, detail and complexity in this wine. Fruit off four-year-old vines. Quite astonishing and yet, the proof is in the glass. Full of heady aromatics – all florals and wood spice with flavours of dark cherry, cherry compote and poached rhubarb. But it’s not at all fruity, as it also comes with a hint of charred radicchio and Italian bitter herbs. There’s a vivacity across the just medium-bodied palate, a little sinewy, yet savoury through and through; best of all, the shapely, fine tannins take charge as it finishes long and convincingly. Made from hand-picked fruit, whole-berries with 3% whole-bunches, fermented in Nico Velo Tulipe concrete vats, pressed off skins after a month and aged a year in mostly light toast François Frères barriques, 30% new. Drink by 2031.'
95 Pts Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front 'There’s a lot going on with this Pinot Noir but it manages to feel effortless. Seamless is the word; finished is another. Campari-like herbs, roasted nuts, earth, undergrowth and sweet black cherries, the latter deep-set in Pinot Noir terms. There’s an excellent framework of tannin, firm and velvety at once, dry strings splayed out across a mesh made of hazelnuts. This wine became more expansive as it rested in the glass. This is the first Pinot Noir grown and made from this vineyard. It’s an exciting debut, with an even more exciting future. Drink 2024-2030+'
The Details
Variety - Pinot Noir
Country - Australia
Region - Victoria
Sub Region - Mornington Peninsula
Extra - Diam Cork
Year - 2023
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker
Elanto is an innovative project, showcasing an ambitious, high-density planted Pinot Noir and Chardonnay venture led by one of Australia’s finest winemakers, Sandro Mosale. With the right backer and solid financial support, this dream has become a reality. While it all sounds promising, the true measure of success lies in the quality of the wines produced—and they are truly exceptional!
