2003 Hurley Vineyard Pinot Noir

This is only the third vintage from Kevin & Tricia Bell's Hurley Vineyards and they continue their impressive run of outstanding Pinot Noir. With only 9 acres under vine, production is tiny with 320 cases of the 2003 Hurley Vineyard Pinot Noir and only 75 cases of the 2003 Hurley Vineyard Homage Pinot Noir being made. Yields are kept to a very low 1.5 tonnes per acre or less. The fruit from the vineyards was 100% destemmed, not crushed and no whole bunches were included. Hurley Vineyard has moved further towards gravity winemaking. In 2003 the wines were racked from fermentation vat to holding tank by a slow must pump. All wine transfers thereafter, including bottling, were undertaken either by gravity or by air-pressure gently applied with a traditional Burgundian hand-pump. These methods were adopted to preserve, as far as possible, the supple texture of pinot noir. The wines were matured for 18 months in French barrels from the forests of Allier and Troncais, one quarter of which were new. They were bottled without fining or filtration. The 2003 vintage was climatically very warm resulting in rich full bodied opulent Pinots.

An impressive Pinot. The colour is outstanding – being deep crimson with crimson hue. Aroma of violets and strawberry with hints of rhubarb, cherry and spice, showing distinctive varietal character. The palate is quite full bodied, with flavours of spice, liquorice followed by cherry, strawberry and subtle oak. The tannins are velvet smooth, delivering a perfectly balanced wine. The Pinot power wave is still in its infancy and will build with further bottle age. Long, spice black cherry aftertaste.
Cellar 3-5 years (2008-2010)
Alc/Vol: 14.9%

Other Reviews.....
Powerful, concentrated black fruits/plum; intense and long; super-powerful style with high alcohol evident. MV6, 114 and 115 clones; 320 cases made.
RATING 94
'James Halliday - 2006 Australian Wine Companion'