Mount Pleasant Mountain C Light Bodied Dry Red, Hunter Valley
The Mountain Range wines pay homage to Maurice O'Shea's talent as a master blender. He had an astounding ability to make and recognise small unique parcels. And depending on what style they were, light-bodied, medium-bodied or full-bodied, O'Shea gave each of them different code names: Mountain C, Mountain A and Mountain D.
Hand-picked, destemmed, open top fermenters, 6 days on skins then pressed to French oak (20% new) aged 15 months. At first, this shiraz didn't want to budge it was so tightly coiled. After a decent airing, it started to unfurl. Red cherries, pips and satsuma plums, pepper and dried herbs all subtly brought together. A lighter frame but more medium-bodied, savoury with a suppleness.
95 points, Wine Companion (January 2018)
This is light, slightly tense, classic Hunter Valley Burgundy in style. It’s defined by it’s light body and crunch of acidity, though it does have good flavour too, and I’m thinking raspberry, cranberry, some earth and hazelnut, gentle rasp of tannin as it moves along, a little dried herb and orange in the aftertaste. It’s a wine of high definition and, I feel, excellent cellaring potential. Nice one.
94+ points, Wine Companion (August 2018)
This is light, slightly tense, classic Hunter Valley Burgundy in style. It’s defined by it’s light body and crunch of acidity, though it does have good flavour too, and I’m thinking raspberry, cranberry, some earth and hazelnut, gentle rasp of tannin as it moves along, a little dried herb and orange in the aftertaste. It’s a wine of high definition and, I feel, excellent cellaring potential. Nice one.
94+ points, The Wine Front (August 2018)
The Hunter Valley is the most important quality wine-producing region in New South Wales, even though it represents only a fraction of the state’s production. Established in the early 1800s, the first vignerons recognised that the coastal fringe north of Sydney was too wet and humid for viable viticulture and thus took the decision to move into the hinterland. Although the region can be particularly hot, the cloud and rainfall patterns significantly modify the microclimate. The Hunter Valley is maritime influenced, with afternoon sea breezes funnelling up through the Hunter River and Goulburn River gap. Rainfall is very erratic and can arrive at the most inopportune time. Soils are generally rich volcanic and alluvial. The best vineyard sites are located within sight of the imposing Brokenback Range that is exposed to the cool sea breezes. Further inland, the maritime influence gives way to a greater degree of continentality. The Hunter Valley is best known for exceptional age-worthy Semillon and fresh savoury medium-bodied Shiraz, although Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay also perform well.
