Kooyong Ferrous Pinot Noir 2023

The Kooyong Ferrous Pinot Noir 2023 is a commanding and profound release from a single 0.8-hectare block. Characterized by its incredibly low-yielding vines and defining ironstone-pebble crust soils, the Ferrous block is the estate's most structurally demanding parcel. These established vines, grown without irrigation and managed with meticulous biological farming, produce fruit with extraordinary crystalline power and angular tension that sets it apart from the rest of the Mornington Peninsula.

Following a cool and wet 2022 spring, the mild and steady 2023 vintage proved ideal for Ferrous, allowing slow, measured ripening. Hand-harvested and destemmed with a targeted whole-bunch inclusion, the fruit underwent spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in concrete and traditional large wooden vats. Extended maceration and careful plunging extracted significant structure before the wine rested in premium French oak barriques (approximately 15% new) for 12 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve its profound earthy purity.

Tasting Note

A complex and beguiling expression of terroir, wrapped in svelte, velvety tannins. Breathtaking aromatics lift from the glass—intense violet, lavender, and rose petal, interlaced with black cherry, blood orange zest, and deep red plum. The palate expands with dark, earthy undergrowth, dried leaves, and crushed ironstone, providing a savoury framework for concentrated blue fruits and wild raspberry. This is a wine of intense mineral line and immense longevity.

Small-Batch Detail

• Region: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

• Vineyard: Ferrous Block (0.8ha, ironstone pebble soil)

• Clonal Composition: Mixed clone selection

• Planting Density: Low-vigour pacing

• Fermentation: Wild yeast in concrete & wood

• Maturation: 12 months in French oak (15% new)

• Alcohol: 13%

• Bottling: Unfined, unfiltered

• Cellaring: 2025–2037

Expert Reviews

⭐ 96 Points – Huon Hooke, The Real Review (July 2025)
“Complex and beguiling dressed in svelte velvety tannins. So good. Lifted, so intense and intriguing in violet, lavender and rose with black cherry, red plum, spices and blood orange zest. The palate expands with earthiness and fungal notes against a strong showing of concentrated red and blue fruits.”

Fine Pinot Note

The masterpiece of the Kooyong lineup. The 2023 Ferrous is a towering Pinot Noir of remarkable earth-driven intensity. It is tightly wound, crystalline, and angular in its youth, promising an extraordinary evolution in the cellar. Pair this sophisticated, savoury Pinot with venison, dry-aged beef, or earthy truffle risotto.