Bob McDonald

9.5

A beautiful Mornington Peninsula Pinot drinking at its peak. A nice blend of red fruits and earthy nuances - M+ intensity on the palate. Again the lightness in colour belies that palate intensity - a sweet palate. Main Ridge Estate was an early producer in Mornington and remains highly rated - Half Acre being their Premium Cuvée. Bottles from this estate are not readily available even in Australia. NOTE DELECTABLE - this Cuvée is the Half Acre Not the Acre. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.4

My first experience with the wines of Benoit Dehu and wow…what a first impression! The fruit for this wine comes from a 4 acre parcel that has historically belonged to his family’s estate. This vineyard is biodynamically farmed and a portion of it is even worked by Violette, the horse. The cuvée “La Rue des Noyers” (2016) pours a striking, nearly brassy color with a persistent mousse. The wine is intense and bursting with an electric energy. Notes of perfectly ripened raspberries, pink apples, pears, peach, lime and brioche on the nose. On the palate, the aforementioned fruits are confirmed and layered in the most lovely fashion. Everything is neatly packaged in a long, mineral driven finish that dazzles. It should be noted that this is made is a more oxidative style though it doesn’t really come across that way. And while we enjoyed it on the pop and pour, this was really at its best after a significant amount of air. In fact, we left the remaining half the bottle in the fridge (with a muzzle on) to finish the next day and it was even better (the notes above are reflective of Day 2). Anyway, this is a producer to watch. Disgorged on May 22, 2020. — 4 years ago

Chris Brumagin

9.6

I don’t normally do this but I’m Irish and I know this is right to share. Half a pint of Guinness with a half pint with this awesome beer. My Mom, my friends…think this the best drink I ever made them. It’s a must try! — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Even though Montalto Estate is not based at Red Hill this block from which the fruit was sourced is pretty much in the spiritual home of Mornington with neighbours like Main Ridge Estate close by. Aromatics of Rose petals, red cherry and Sous Bois. Palate is delicious and intense bordering on profound. Rich red fruits, earthy, with a supple finish - the local Red Hill signature if you like. A fabulous Mornington Peninsula Pinot, not dissimilar to the Main Ridge Estate Half Acre we had recently. Luckily I have one left which I will leave for a couple of years if I have the willpower! — 23 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Semi transparent Ruby red. Aromatics of dried rose petals and violets with Sous Bois. Profound flavour intensity with savoury red cherry. Burgundian overtones. The Langtons Classification adopted Main Ridge as a top Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir many years ago - almost the original. Oak is in balance and doesn’t intrude. A very good Pinot, and probably a point or two behind their premium Cuvée, The Half Acre. Had the last one on 30/5/25. Good but not great. — a year ago

JKT

9.2

Wow what an old timer wine showing beautifully right off the bat. Beautiful plummy earthy rich nose into balanced still lively palate and firm texture into a harmonious and long finish. Pleasure to drink. A surprise for a 32 year old but probably from the glory days of this vineyard and varietal? Perfect for the leftover cheese ML brought weeks ago, Formaggio’s Twin Farm Goat Tomme Goats Milk from West Cornwall VT. Half bottle downed, unusual for me. Well, after three days of DE beer (quite good) and dinners alone! — 4 years ago

Paul T HB

9.8

Thats some great juice @Benoit Touquette wine.👍🏼
Winery notes

STORY

Benoit Touquette has continued to serve as winemaker since 2006.

The first vines the family planted were one acre of Bosche clone Cabernet Sauvignon grafted to budwood provided by Dick Grace of Grace Family Vineyards. The first few vintages were also made at Grace Family Vineyards, until the winery on the estate was completed, with Andy Erickson as winemaker. The winery's first release was an estate Cabernet Sauvignon in 1990, which sold out immediately, and with subsequent vintages, Hartwell established a reputation for fine Cabernet Sauvignon.

Over the years, other parcels of the property were planted, allowing the winery to produce other Cabernet Sauvignons, as well as Merlot, a red dessert wine, and a red wine blend. In 2006, the Hartwells purchased a 4.5-acre vineyard in Carneros from which they produce a Bordeaux-inspired Sauvignon Blanc, and brought acclaimed winemaker Benoit Touquette on board to oversee production.


Hartwell Vineyards was founded in 1986 when Bob Hartwell purchased 90 acres of Wappo Hill—the half of Wappo Hill not owned by Robert Mondavi—in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley.

The fruit for the T5 Cabernet Sauvignon hails from the highest point on the Hartwell estate, blocks 14 and 15, which were planted to Bosche clone 30 years ago. The 100% Cabernet wine ages for two years in T5 barriques, rare and prized barrels from famed French cooperage house, Taransaud. These barrels are toasted and crafted from five-year seasoned staves by coopers who have been awarded the title of “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” (Best Craftsman in France). Much like some of the finest wines, they are available only to a select list of customers due to their limited availability.

Each year, a mere 100 cases of Hartwell T5 are produced, available only by allocation to members of the T5 Cabernet Sauvignon wine club. — 5 years ago

Rick Phillips

9.7

From a half acre vineyard off Silverado Trail and at the foothill of Howell Mountain, the Parry’s produced some of the finest limited release Cabernet in Napa. Only 20 years exist of the magnificent wine. Bold fruit with layers of chocolate and leather, this wine completes itself at the backend with a smooth finish that wraps around your mouth! — 2 months ago

with Letha

Jay Kline

9.3

Yesterday, Stage 7 of this years Tour de France was an exciting Time Trial through a famous section of the Côte-d’Or. The riders started in the village of Nuits-Saint-Georges and finished just up the road in Gevrey-Chambertin. Naturally, I felt compelled to open this beauty from Thibault Liger-Belair. “La Charmotte” is a tiny, 0.40ha (basically a single acre) vineyard right on the border of the 1er crus of Argilats and Bousselots that was planted in 1962.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of six hours. The 2019 “La Charmotte” pours a deep, slightly hazy ruby, thanks to some fine sediment. But otherwise a transparent core with medium viscosity and no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous, perfectly ripened strawberries and raspberries, cranberries, exotic spices, a radical assortment of red flowers, porchini and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and super satisfying.

A touch of Vosne-Romanée with the skeleton of Nuits-Saint-Georges, this is a serious village wine with impeccable texture. For all the super nerds out there, Thibault uses 40% whole cluster for this wine, aged 18 months in French oak barrels, less than half of which are new. Drink now through 2034 easy.
— a year ago

Tom Garland

9.5

1 hour decant (decent chunky/fine sediment). A monumental dark garnet color. On the nose: not big, but beautiful notes of black cherry, cassis, smoked meat, toasty oak, slight menthol. Taste: smooth, creamy, concentrated and intense full body wine with dark plum, cassis, dark chocolate, minerals, and a long peppery espresso finish. YUM! could drink this all night, but the bottle is half gone and its still early Sat night. — 4 years ago

with Brenda