Quealy Wines Campbell & Christine Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022 (12 Bottles) Mornington Peninsula

by Fine Wine Cellars

$519.00 GST Included

AUSTRALIA WIDE SHIPPING INCLUDED

With Musk Creek and Tussie Mussie, this site completes the trio of Quealy’s premier-league, leased Mornington Peninsula vineyards. Established by Campbell and Christine Penfold—both doctors— in 1994, it mainly features the MV6 clone. Some 114 and 115 were also planted, taking advantage of the premium clones that became available around the same time.

Located on the coastal plain, it sits at just 30 metres above sea level behind Balnarring village. It’s an exposed, north-facing site with alluvial clay and red soils washed down from Red Hill. Tom McCarthy tells us it produces “gorgeous, small bunches of glossy Pinot Noir”. Stylistically, the Campbell & Christine sits at the more concentrated, muscular end of the Pinot spectrum.

Low yields in 2022 further ramped up the impactful fruit from this site, so Tom approached it with a gentle hand in the cellar. Different clones were picked over two days—9th and 16th March. Destemmed fruit fermented in small vats over 21 days before being gently pressed to puncheons (approximately 20% new) for 14 months.

“Medium-deep red-purple colour with an intensely spicy bouquet that shows floral/rose-petal notes at first, then dark-cherry and bitter herb touches. The palate full and round, rich and deep, with spicy flavour and ample fine tannins well matched to the wine’s weight.

Good structure, a touch of grip, and it would take some age to advantage. (Mostly MV6 clone; basalt soils close to sea-level; matured in 500-litre puncheons).” 95 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review

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Description

This Pinot Noir vineyard was established by Doctors Campbell and Christine Penfold in 1994. In the 90s, new premium clones became available – slightly bigger, looser bunches that controlled vine vigour and ripened to effusive dark crimsons, indicating a great volume of tannin. The greatness of their vineyard stems from the clonal selection of MV6, 114 and 115 with the confluence of shallow, clay-rich soils in the warmer sub region of Balnarring.

Campbell & Christine Penfold’s vineyard is located on the coastal plain, 30 metres elevation behind Balnarring Village. The vineyard maturity is evident in the profound flavour of the wine. The soil is duplex; the top soil is a mixture of alluvial clay and the red soils washed down from the Red Hill above. This upper zone is quite shallow; underneath is a less permeable clay now broached by the roots of the mature vines. Irrigation is no longer or rarely necessary.

The vines are pruned to a single arch, minimizing vigour, reducing canopy size and forcing the grapes to ripen. The style of wine is very concentrated, masculine and satisfying for a Pinot Noir drinker.

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