This Mornington Pinot Noir is the debut bottling from Jordan Lewis, Sam Middleton of Mount Mary, and the D’Anna brothers of Hoddles Creek under their DML label. Made from a single site, the grapes for this wine were sourced from a grower renowned for outstanding Pinot Noir. This parcel was an opportunity too good to be missed, so the DML team grabbed it with both hands. Juicy with red fruit, this is very subtly oaked. Shining with pretty fruit, the finish is long. Only 200 dozen of this Pinot were made – good things, they say, come in small packages.
DML (D’Anna Middleton Lewis) VIN is a passion project making expressive single-vineyard Pinot Noir in Victoria. When AFL player Jordan Lewis visited his very first vineyard while honeymooning in Florence, he fell hook, line and sinker. Once he returned home, he dedicated himself to making up for lost time, and immersed himself in the world of wine. One bottle evaded him: the Langton’s Classified ‘Excellent’ 1er Pinot Noir. To source it, he got in touch with Hoddles’ Franco D’Anna. The two got on like a house on fire. Mount Mary’s Sam Middleton soon completed the trio. Together, the three characters that make up DML seek to create exemplary regional Pinot from exceptional parcels around Victoria.
Red cherry, plum, spice, a little samphire and thyme, a slight smokiness too, and dried roses. It’s fine, but offers more grunt and substance than the more delicate Yarra Valley offering, more grain and grip through the tannin, poached strawberry and ripe pomegranate with a bit of crunch on a long finish. It’s lively and regional, and so nicely turned out.
95 points, The Wine Front (May 2020)
Clones 114, 115, hand-picked and sorted, cold soak, 14 days on skins. Has more altitude and precision than many from the Mornington Peninsula in this difficult vintage. Fragrant red cherry and blood plum, superfine tannins. Complex and balanced.
95 points, Wine Companion (March 2020)
Medium red/purple hue. Savoury but nicely-perfumed bouquet, complex, undergrowth and dried mushrooms, the palate elegant and very drying, intense and savoury. Very fine texture, a stylish pinot.
92 points, The Real Review (June 2020)
The Mornington Peninsula is located approximately one hour south of Melbourne. A cool maritime climate,the region is virtually frost free, but is susceptible to high winds. Rainfall is moderate, throughout winter and the growing season. Most of the vineyards are located between just above sea level and 200 metres. Soils range from weathered volcanic soils to sandy loams and friable well-drained clays. Mornington Peninsula is best known for making elegant cool climate Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and sublime Pinot Noir.
