QUEALY CAMPBELL & CHRISTINE PINOT NOIR 2023

Regarding the evolution of Quealy's Pinots since the T'Gallant days, the critical development has been in the vineyards with the move to organic viticulture and with weed and insect control and cover crops leading to greater balance in the vineyard. Vine age is a factor too. Having worked the same vines for many years, Kevin and Tom (who has overseen the winemaking since 2017) have witnessed the continuous upward arc in vine health and fruit quality¡ªsuch progression is writ large in this characteristically fragrant, pretty and spice-licked Quealy Pinot.

About Quealy Winemakers

Pioneers is not a word we throw around loosely, but it's precisely the right term to describe Kathleen Quealy and Kevin McCarthy. This power couple was not only part of the early wave of growers to begin seriously exploring and planting the Mornington Peninsula in the early 90s, but they were also the producer to identify this area's potential with Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio and their work with this variety made the grape a household name in Australia. Study trips to Collio (1995), Alsace (1998) and the pilgrimage to Josko Gravner (2006), each had a profound influence on Quealy and McCarthy's thinking and led to some of Australia's finest, and earliest attempts at quality skin contact wines: an adventure that continues today.

Now there is a generational shift at play with Tom McCarthy, the eldest son of Kathleen and Kevin starting to make his mark. Tom McCarthy took over as chief winemaker at Quealy in 2019 with Alex Buller as his assistant and with Kevin as Tom puts it as his consultant and night shift. While the outstanding vibrancy of the latest releases underlines what Tom is bringing to the table, he's also quick to point out that he's working with Quealy's established house philosophy of many years, which includes no pressings (and therefore no need for fining), no acidification, low and late sulphur additions and a reliance on old oak.