Schinus Molle Pinot Noir 1988 Wholesale Price 110.00 Recommended Retail Price 16.50 Schinus Molle is the new label from Garry Crittenden, whose winery, Dromana Estate, has made such a huge impact on the restaurant market with stunning, easy-to-drink, but complex food wines. Schinus Molle, which is the botanic term for the Peppercorn Tree, consists of three premium wines, all of which were made by Garry at his Mornington Peninsula winery. Crittenden was formerly one of Victoria’s leading wholesale nurserymen, and the Peppercorn has been one of his favourite plant species since childhood. Incidentally, Crittenden is no relation to the wine retail firm of the same name. The fruit crushed for the Schinus Molle range is brought in from other properties, some indeed from other regions. In keeping with his conviction, which incidentally I fully endorse, that multi-regional blends may make superior wine than their components, Crittenden has blended several regions in some of his wines – Coonawarra with Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, for example. In future he hopes to add some Margaret River (WA) material to these wines. Schinus Molle is not so much the usual ‘second label’ sold by many wine companies. On the other hand, the wines are unable to be labelled as ‘Dromana Estate’ for the simple reason that they were not grown on the property. However Crittenden has determined that the Schinus Molle range will be of an early-drinking style, rather than a collection to cellar. This makes them especially suitable for the restaurant market. The Schinus Molle Pinot Noir 1988 is a typical Mornington Peninsula wine, with delightful cherry/strawberry fruit and a sweet spiciness. Blended from two separate Mornington vineyards, whose crops were fermented separately, it is an early-drinking style with vibrant fruit backed by fresh acids and lingering flavours. Elegant, generous and clean, it is perfect to serve inside or out throughout the Indian Summer season we are theoretically entering now. Food suggestions: Warm and cold salads, terrines, veal and pork. Distribution is courtesy the Dorado Wine Company.
