Ocean Eight Pinot Noir 2010, Mornington Peninsula

It's been quite a drought around here, right?! What an outrageously lazy period without Pinots from distant places or other mildly extraordinary wines from regions somewhere around the globe. More than a months?! Really!? I hardly can look in the mirror! For the future I do vow not to give in such to sluggishness again … I hope ...
To make up for this ignominy I'd like to send my tongue all the way down to Australia onto the beautifully scenic Mornington Peninsula south east of Melbourne. Well, at least I think it was scenic. I've only been there once. Then, well intoxicated with a horrific hangover induced by cheap Shiraz based fizz and shaken by a bumpy and awkwardly chatty minibus ride down a coastal road. Both of which might have blured my memory a bit. In short, I wasn't well … at all. Not to mention the subsequent ferry ride across the bay ... Anyway, I digress! As always! The frequent reader probably got used to my constantly deviating thought processes. Back to the matter on tongue! Today's Pinot from the vintage 2010 was produced by Michael Aylward from Ocean Eight vineyard & winery in Shorehame on the south-east coast of the peninsula. Michael started his winery in 2004 were he and his team cultivate varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and even some Pinot Gris. Mornington Peninsula. The vines for today's Pinot were palanted in 1999 and standing on up to 65 meter high sandy loam vineyards facing north-west. The grapes were picked by hand and underwent fermentaion froid for a respectable long period of four to six weeks. Useing natural yeasts ... of course. After that it was aged for about 12 months in 15% new barriques and three to four year old 500 litre barrels. So let's give it a go ...

The colour of my Mornington'ian Pinot Noir from Ocean Eight appeared quite murky, rather ruby-bright and overall not all too generously rich in colour. In the nose I've spotted fragrances of morning dew – not sure how to describe this without embarrising myself completely, so I better won't, rather ripe and slightly sirupy raspberries and more restraint appearing red currant, some a dried hay, mild herbs and a very nice infusion of lime. Gôut'wise its quite ripe – not overripe or even hot – raspberry-red-currant touch seemed even more communicative, reserved lush, but luckily not really rich. It preserved a very fitting portion of airy elegance. In addition to this nonchalance it show a nicely creamy texture. But not chubby! Doubtlessly a cool climate Pinot with vital acid and probably a bit too many sun caressed attributes. The evolving tertiary aromas seemd a bit too laid back and maybe even slightly frail. Not all intense expression either. More light profundity, I suppose. Luckily absolutely no oak or alcohol issues. The only possible issues for my heavily spoiled Burgundy Pinot palate was the slightly too sugary finish of this Pinot. Anyway, overall a very refreshing, fruitdriven Aussie Pinot with high fun potential and not sooo much seriousness. Still, most definitely a decent **** indulgence.

Next stop on my tongues voyage to not so well know Pinot shores will be Russia or the Ukraine or to whichever country Crimea belongs at the moment ...