Scorpo Noirien Pinot Noir 2024

Paul Scorpo has built an enviable reputation for his site-specific wines on the Mornington Peninsula, and the Noirien label is consistently one of the best-value options in his lineup. The fruit for this 2024 release comes from two north-facing blocks in Merricks North, right next to the main estate. It was a cooler season with tiny yields, which has given the fruit a bit more concentration than usual.

Paul handles it pretty gently in the winery. The fruit was hand-picked and split into parcels - some got a cold soak to pull out colour and flavour, and one parcel was fermented as whole bunches for aromatic lift. It spent seven months in mostly old French oak before being bottled without filtration.

It sits nicely between fresh and savoury. You get a bright red cherry lift on the nose, but on the palate, it digs a bit deeper with notes of dark plum, olive and brown spice.

It's one of the most consistent Pinots on the Peninsula.