Batista Pinot Noir 2008 bags best of WA award but Mornington P wins out…

I’m a huge fan of Western Australian wines, but it’s fair to say that Pinot Noir is work in progress.  At Howard Park, Jeff and Amy Burch have joined forces with Burgundy’s Pascal Marchand and, under their Marchand & Burch label, they’re producing some exciting wines in both Burgundy and Great Southern (see here).  But on my visit last year, the Pinots that excited me the most were made by Bob Peruche of Batista (pictured), who has a great feel for the variety (see my report here).  So I was pleased to spot, in my latest copy of Western Australia’s Spice magazine, that Batista Pinot Noir 2008 bagged the best of WA award. 

The context of the Spice feature was a Pinot Noir taste off between Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and South West Australia, which saw the latter “trumped.”   Here are my notes on a couple of other Mornington stunners that have recently passed these lucky lips!

Eldridge Estate Pinot Noir 2008 – lovely lifted, perfumed nose with sweet ripe cherry, violets and subtle truffle hints, which follow through on a delightfully silky palate; just a hint of, for me reassuring, savoury beetroot undertow to the finish.  Very good; lovely intensity, balance and length and looked great on day 2. 13.5%  I’m told that the 2008 Eldridge Clonal Blend is even better, so that’s on the hit list! £40 at Auswine Online

Ocean Eight Pinot Noir 2008 – quite different from the Eldridge, but another great Pinot – richer and darker, deep but not crisp, rather it’s seductive and velvety, with cherry and truffle to nose and palate; lovely texture and savoury length.  Very good and, again, held up well on day 2. 13.5% £30 at Auswine Online

I shall have more Mornington Peninsula tales following my visit to the region in a couple of weeks.