The new release reds from Montalto in the Mornington Peninsula from the 2015 vintage are fresh out.  The 2015 vintage in the region saw even temperatures in September through December, a warm to hot January and February and a dry and mild March.  Yields for Montalto were fairly low at around 1.4 tonnes per acre for pinot noir, and a bit higher for shiraz (2.1 tonnes per acre).  I recall the season as being quite an even one and nothing like the extreme couple of years we had locally prior to 2010.

Pennon Hill Pinot Noir 2015, abv 13.5%, $32

The Pennon Hill is Montalto’s regional offering with grapes mostly sourced from Merricks North and Red Hill South.  This is a wonderfully aromatic wine, with notes of bacon, herbs, redcurrant, tea trees and fresh cut rosemary.  The palate reminds of sweet and sour cherries, with a crunchy piquant impression and fresh acidity.  Lovely drinking.  Rating: Good

Montalto Estate Pinot Noir 2015, abv 13.6%, $50

The estate pinot noir is also sourced from vineyards across the Peninsula, with grapes from Main Ridge, Red Hill, Merricks and Tuerong.  This wine is immediately a step up from the Pennon Hill, with more complex bacon, red plum and cherry aromatics.  The palate has a lovely balance and harmony to it.  Well made.  Rating: Good to Very Good

Montalto Estate Shiraz 2015, abv 14.1%, $50

This wine is a single vineyard wine from Tuerong.  Straddling a cooler and warmer climate shiraz in style, it has aromatics of baked red currants and tea trees, the latter a local character.  There’s plenty of glycerol on the palate, with a medium bodied impression.  Rating: Good

Source: samples
Read more: http://montalto.com.au
Tasted: 2016