2021 Gembrook Hill J.K.M Pinot Noir Yarra Valley – It was 1983 when Ian and June Marks Found their vineyard site after a long search for the perfect pocket of land throughout almost every wine region in Victoria. With Views of Mt Donna Buang, a backdrop of the Warburton ranges, red soil and a coveted north-easterly aspect, it is the perfect spot for cool climate winemaking. Gembrook Hill led the way as part of the “second wave” of Yarra Valley vigerons, and today is one of the oldest vineyards in the Upper Yarra sub-region.Gembrook’s wines are regarded as some of the most outstanding examples of their variety in Australia and are crafted with an old-world winemaking mindset. Most vine age now over twenty years. Their Pinot Noirs have the elegance of old world Burgundy.Please welcome the inaugural release of the JKM Pinot Noir to the Gembrook Hill lineup. As a new season approached, it occurred to Andrew that while 2017 had been a fitting year to celebrate Ian, it made even more sense to celebrate the living. Enter the JKM or June Kathryn Marks. While the IJM was a powerful but humble expression as a vinous memorial to Ian, the JKM seeks to capture some of June’s natural exuberance.Here we have more of a winemaker’s wine. The intention for this wine was to explore both new viticultural and wine making techniques, while still capturing the essence of the vineyard. The viticultural technique was shoot selection – a refinement of shoot thinning which we have always used in the vineyard. This serves to open up the canopy, reducing disease risk and increasing sunlight into the canopy, while producing more intense fruit. The winemaking technique was the use of some whole bunch fermentation from our newest plantings of Pinot which was then matured in an old French hogshead. This made up a third of the wine while the majority comes from our Lower block Pinot which was 100% destemmed. There were two barrels of this Lower Pinot, one was matured in a new French oak hogshead while the other in an old one.The result is a complex, aromatic Pinot with plenty of flavour. Very typical Gembrook Hill style here. Super fragrant and lifted, spice, herbs, forest floor and smokiness. Also a good mix of whole-bunch, black and red berries, dry tannins and the perfect amount of acidity. Can’t wait to see this with a few more years under the belt. A top Aussie Pinot.Single Price: $140.00 Any Six Bottle Buy: $110.00