Current Vintage: 2019

Is there a cuter name for a vineyard in Australia? Managed by the Quealy team, the Tussie Mussie vineyard was planted on the site of a former rose farm in 2007 (hence the name--tussie mussie is an old term for a flower bouquet). In Merricks North, the vineyard's 3.5 acres of Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir is rooted in the Peninsula's most prized soil: deep red volcanic clays. North-facing at 120 to 150 metres altitude, the site is well-protected and warm. Quealy notes all these attributes, along with the youthful vine stock, result in an exuberantly fruity style of Gris.

The fruit was hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed over six hours at low pressure (Alsatian-style) to capture only the grapes' most delicate phenolics. Only the free-run was used, with the lion's share fermenting in stainless steel and 20% going to French oak for structure and complexity. For extra texture, the wines were lees-stirred until November, when it was blended and bottled.

Region

It is not really summer in Melbourne until you’ve packed up the car and crammed every living friend and relative into the car for a day/weekend trip to the Mornington Peninsula. On the tail end of the Eastern Bay of Melbourne, you can expect to find a dynamic range of beach side living. From the low key, sleepy beach towns to bustling coastal communities - packed with arriviste private schools, cafes, boutiques, competitive polo and some of the most expensive strips of holiday home real estate serving some of the richest people in the nation. You might even catch a glimpse of Lindsay Fox landing his helicopter on his Portsea front beach mansion.

Unlike the pretences of its holiday makers, the region packs a punch now that wine making has returned to favour in the area after a period of decline. You can expect to find high quality, cool climate wines that deliver fresh, smooth mouthfeel and a sense of wanting more. We can’t get enough of summer in the peninsula, and the cracka’ selection of winemakers are a perfect pairing.

Critic Reviews

"Light rose-gold hue. The bouquet opens with a whiff of reduction and some smoked-charcuterie notes. Peach kernel, spice and gardenia later. It's textured and slightly grippy in the mouth, the balance very dry, to which the tannins contribute, and the flavour is layered and rich with some honey and lychee. It has more intensity than most of its kind, as well as appealing viscosity." 94 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review

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Pinot Grigio