Quealy Musk Creek Pinot Noir 2022

Musk Creek vineyard, perched atop Main Ridge and planted in 1997 by Kevin McCarthy and Kathleen Quealy, is considerably cooler and hence later-ripening than Quealy’s Tussie Mussie or Seventeen Rows sites. As such, it’s a marginal place to ripen Pinot, and low yields are a must (along with plenty of work with the canopy). Sitting at 150 metres, these mature vines are rooted in the rich red soils of the region. The four-hectare site is planted to Pinot Noir (mostly MV6) and Gris in equal measure, with another hectare dedicated to Muscat Rouge à Petits Grains and Chardonnay.

The intense, low-yielding season warranted a rethink regarding winemaker Tom McCarthy’s use of whole bunches. The low berry-to-stalk ratio simply didn’t warrant its use, so Tom destemmed all the fruit to better capture its purity and vividness. Wild fermentation took place in small two-tonne fermenters with minimal plunging and only light pressing. The wine rested on full lees in French hogsheads (25% new) for 14 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The quality of the vintage and site is undeniable. The 2022 is a bright, complex and delicious release.