Southern Light Vineyard Ghostgum Pinot Noir 2023

Southern Light Vineyards’ 2023 Ghostgum Pinot Noir is a deeply expressive release from one of Mornington Peninsula’s most elevated and evocative vineyard sites. Planted in 1990 on the red ferrosol soils of Ghostgum Vineyard in Main Ridge, this east-facing site yields fruit of natural complexity, purity, and mineral precision.

Despite the cool, wet conditions of the 2023 season, meticulous vineyard management delivered beautifully ripe, concentrated fruit. Three Pinot Noir clones—115, MV6 and D2V5—were hand-picked and fermented in small open pots, with a considered 33% whole bunch component. The wine spent 12 days on skins before gentle pressing and maturation in French oak hogsheads (20% new) for 10 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered in February 2024.

The wine opens with savoury, earthy aromatics—aniseed, clove, and sweet under-vine mulch—lifted by pomegranate and raspberry perfume. The palate is finely tuned and intensely detailed, driven by dark cherry and blood plum fruit, wrapped in silken tannins and a thread of juicy acidity. A precise and savoury Pinot Noir of balance, persistence and poise.

Small-Batch Detail

• Vineyard: Ghostgum Vineyard, Main Ridge (est. 1990)

• Elevation: 174m | Aspect: East-facing

• Soil: Red volcanic ferrosol (basalt-derived)

• Yield: ~3 tonnes/ha | Vineyard Size: 5.5ha

• Clones: 115, MV6, D2V5

• Whole Bunch: 33% (including 100% WB + 100% destemmed ferments)

• Oak Maturation: 10 months in French oak hogsheads (20% new)

• Bottled: February 2024 | Unfined & unfiltered

• Alcohol: 13.0%

Critical Acclaim
⭐ 95 Points – Andrew Graham, Oz Wine Review
“Just 13% alcohol, but the ripeness is perfect… lucid, carefully done… a wine that was agonised over. A win.”

⭐ 94 Points – Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
“Spicy and exotic… sour cherry and rhubarb, peppery tannin, mineral feel. Pleasing lightness with depth.”

⭐ 95 Points – Ray Jordan, WinePilot
“Spicy, truffly, sour cherry. Forest floor and precision. A triumph of vineyard and winemaking.”

⭐ 95 Points – Ken Gargett, WinePilot
“Truffles, red fruits, deli meats. Light and delicate in appearance, but deep and intense in power.”

FinePinot Note
Ghostgum is a thrilling new voice in Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir—refined, savoury and quietly powerful. A wine that will evolve beautifully over the next 6–8 years, and pairs perfectly with roast duck, wild mushrooms or game birds.

( Image Source : southernlightvineyards.com.au The Southern Light Vineyards team from left: James Becker (Winemaker), Rupert Steenberg (Sales & Marketing Director), David Li (Winemaker), Hayley O’Heare (Brand Manager), Anthony Fikkers (Head of Winemaking & Viticulture), John Valmorbida (Founder of Joval), Dan Sergeant (Viticulturist). )