Circe is a metaphor for the challenges presented by Pinot Noir, a capricious grape to grow and often fickle as a wine. Very like the temptress of ancient myth, Pinot Noir remains irresistible to contemplative winemakers for its rare mutability, as no other grape can capture and articulate the uniqueness of provenance.

$3399each $407DOZEN EACH DOZEN The proprietorship at Circe are never focused on targets and deadlines, biodynamic viticulture and a love of all things natural, means that the only requirements are a healthy soil and respect for the vine. Providing a clean, ecologically balanced environment for local flora and fauna, inevitably leads to better wine.

The chilly early mists, exhilerating maritime breezes and undulating terroirs of Mornington are heaven sent for the realization of Burgundy styled Chardonnay wines. Half the plantings at Hillcrest Road are Chardonnay, one and a half acres of a single clone, originally intended for an elite sparkling Cuvee. Such is the quality of fruit, its remarkable concentration of flavour and flawless acidity, choice parcels are set aside for a pure varietal wine. Structured, seamless and intense, single vineyard block Mornington Chardonnay of the highest order.

$5199each $623DOZEN EACH DOZEN Painstakingly husbanded to excruciating standards of viticulture, Hillcrest Road Vineyard is dry grown and closely cropped at less than two tonnes per acre, for vintages of extremely limited yields. It is a small, pampered site which affords the Circe team a rare indulgement of attending to each vine as an individual, focusing on every detail and maintaining a meticulous vigil on the soils. The quality of fruit speaks for itself, as there are no substitutes for footprints in the vineyard. Those parcels of hand picked and hand sorted Chardonnay, which merit inclusion into a pure varietal wine, are treated to an old world style of vinification, extended exposure to gross sedimentery lees and luxurious French oak treatments.

Dan Buckle and Aaron Drummond are Mornington born and bred. They work at the illustrious Mt Langi Ghiran but find time to share the husbandry on a precious three acre vineyard on an elevated northeast ridge at Red Hill South. The Messrs Drummond and Buckle take a decidedly Burgundian approach to processing their Pinot Noir, ferments of exclusively whole bunches are foot stomped over the course of a week before filling to small oak casks. Structured and eloquent, pastoral and intense, small batch, superior vineyard Mornington Pinot at its finest.

$5199each $623DOZEN EACH DOZEN Vines were established on a chilly slope of deep red basalt volcanic soils along Hillcrest Road in 1993. Closely cropped at a little over one tonne per acre, the property yields a frugal harvest of awesome Pinot Noir. The tight, small bunches, physiological ripeness and immaculate skins are ideal for traditional whole bunch winemaking. The fully stemmed fruit is treated to a course of maceration, as ambient yeasts initiate a week of ferment, followed by several days of boots on pigeage. Batches are pressed into a selection of French oak barriques for completion of malolactic and a year's maturation on full gross lees without any racking, to preserve the integrity and eloquence of a tremendous site.

Purple scarlet red. Fragrant cherry ripe aromas, red apples and rhubarb notes, sasafras and anise spice. A multi layered palate of wild piquant raspberries, red licorice wick and frais de bois, dark anise tannins and sasafras oak in support of the textural, weight of fruit. Structured, dimensional and refined, its lifted finish resolves on a length of mineral and pebble pastoral complexity.

An essential inclusion into many of Champagne's most prestigious marques, Pinot Meunier is rarely seen as a pure varietal. Mornington has seen over thirty vintages of this bespoke, esoteric wine, redolent of red berries, violets and spice, an experience not to be missed by all adherents of the abstruse, artisanal style. Circe craft a Pinot Meunier of structure, clarity and length, it shares a remarkable kinship with her patent sibling's brightly lit translucence of cherry, sasafras fruit. Match your Meunier with lamb, rare breast of duck, or terrine of offal, walnut dressing and thyme.

$3699each $441DOZEN EACH DOZEN

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The winemaking at Circe is all about excellence, about maintaining the healthiest vineyards, all things are done according to best practice, with an uncompromising respect for nature. As a Mornington grower, it's not easy to get your fruit selected for Circe, the Messrs Buckle and Drummond will only consider the most outstanding parcels and there are never any quotas. Assembled from the pick of Red Hill fruit and treated to the full regimen of Burgundian traditions, a dulcetly perfumed Pinot Noir of seamless complexity and textural whole bunch richness.

$3699each $443DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Ruby purple colour. Wild strawberries abound, morello, sen-sen and stalk, rose petals and herb. A ripe palate of classy red fruit flavours, cranberries and currant cream, seasoned by undergowth, eucalypt and clove. Elegantly medium bodied, defined by its rich pinosity and pastoral appeal, its exceptionally fine line of yielding tannins in support, all the way to a warm, lingering finish.

$5299each $635DOZEN EACH DOZEN

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$2899each $347DOZEN EACH DOZEN