Principia Altior Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir 2016

Congratulations to Mornington Peninsula’s Principia (pronounced Prin-kip-ia) and winemaker Darrin Gaffey, for the recent title of Darkhorse Winery of the Year. Darrin’s winemaking watchword is minimal intervention, and his stated goal is “to produce elegant and complex wines that reflect the individual characteristics of the vineyard site”.

It’s ‘mission accomplished’ as you’ll see with just a sip of his lovely 2016 Pinot Noir.“Hand-picked, wild-fermented, matured in French oak for 18 months, made without pumps or filtration. The colour is star-bright light crimson; red blossom and spice aromas are attractive, but don't strike as decisively as the intense, long and beautifully proportioned palate, with its sparkling red fruits, spices and bramble flavours in total harmony with oak, acidity, and tannins that bow to the fruit … 95 points” (Halliday).