Due to the loss of the 2020 vintage (smoke), we have held back the 2019 Maipenrai Pinot Noir for an extra 9 months. We think the wait has been worthwhile, as the wine is an outstanding example of what our vineyard is capable of in a cooperative vintage. Available until sold out, which normally happens quite quickly.

$220 per case of 6 (includes shipping to NSW, ACT, VIC, Adelaide, or Brisbane - other destinations there is a small charge). Wine will be shipped within 2 weeks by Australian Post (via Mount Majura Winery). Limit 1 case per customer.

Looking towards the future, unfortunately, the 2021 and 2022 vintages are very small - so I am sorry to say we will need to restrict availability to 3 bottles per person when these wines are released in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and it is likely our long-term customes will exhaust all of our supplies. Let's hope 2023 provides a bit larger crop.

2019 Maipenrai Pinot Noir

With a fence to keep the kangaroos that destroyed the 2018 crop out of the vineyard, we had a successful budburst for 2018/19 vintage on schedule around October 1st. After a dryer than average winter, but of relatively normal temperature, things warmed up quickly in mid October. Given the lack of rain and warm temperatures, we needed to start watering early. Flowering occurred as per the norm in the 2nd-half of November, with temperatures warmish, but in the zone of normality. We received some much needed rain starting in mid-December, but the warmish weather turned to extreme-heat in January with Maipenrai hitting 40C for the first time in its history on January 16th. January had 21 days at Maipenrai over 30C - by far the hottest month we had ever had (although this heat was again eclipsed in the doomed 2020 vintage). By watering, we kept the vineyard happy - and this type of heat made the berries small, and slowed the growing season down a bit so that veraison (when grapes turn colour) happened at a fairly typical time of Feb 2nd. The ripening period was much more civilised with respect to temperature - warm compared to normal- but not hot. We picked 2.5tonnes of grapes from our vineyard on March 17th. With 20% whole bunches in the vat, our wild ferments went through without drama, with the wines kept in French Oak (1/3rd new) for 22 months.

The 2019 Maipenrai Pinot Noir has a medium-rich ruby colour, with a complex nose of forest floor. On the palate, it is medium bodied, with some fine tannins up front, plummy fruit, and a long lingering finish with the oft-described peacock's tail of flavours, all supported by a scaffold of cedary oak. While approachable now, it will improve over the next 5-10 years if kept well cellared. Overall, a highly successful vintage, that despite the heat, has produced a formidable and distinctively excellent Pinot Noir.

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Updated 1 July 2022 -

We have decided to delay release of our 2019 wines due to the loss of the entire 2020 vintage due to smoke. Our pre-release our 2019 Amungula Creek Pinot Noir to our Gold and Silver Status members, unfortunately for everyone else, sold the wine out. The good news is that 2019 Maipenrai Vineyard Pinot Noir will be released on 1 August 2022, and while there is not heaps of wine, there should be enough for non Gold and Silver status members to get an opportunity to order some, although it will sell out quickly.

The 2021 and 2022 vintages are both very small - we made just over 2 barrels of wine (about 750 bottles worth) in both cases, with the vine fruitfulness compromised by the smoke and drought of 2020 and bad fruit set in 2022. We expect to release these wines in September 2023/24 respectively, but we will need to restrict availability to 3 bottles per person, and I would expect it only to be available to people with Gold and Silver status on the mailing list. I am sorry - we are doing our best to combat the challenges of Mother Nature.

We have sold OUT as of 9.30pm

I am pleased to release our 2017 Maipenrai Pinot Noir which will sell out quickly.

The 2016/17 season began with the wettest spring in memory, and the vines got a great start in a cool/mild spring, that turned warm by December. January was dry and the hottest on record (a record that was shattered again this year), with the conditions continuing warm and dry through the first half of February. We ended up losing a lot of the fruit that had set on the vines due to lack of water. The weather moderated mid-February with the ripening period post veraison picture perfect - mild temperatures, not much rain, but just enough to keep things ticking a long. We had a very low crop again off the vineyard, and purchased some outstanding fruit from two nearby vineyards.

Sorry if you missed out, but we sold out at noon of this year's Amungula Creek Pinot Noir. There will be a bit more Maipenrai available in October, and so the time window for getting an order in should hopefully be more than a few hours.

If you live in Canberra, I always give Plonk, at the Fyshwick Markets, a few cases, which they sell by the bottle (2 bottle max, usually). They should have it starting June 16th until they sell out. You should call to check availability (02 6260 6336)

Brian Schmidt

We have started the process of releasing our 2016 Amungula Creek Pinot Noir. Wine availability is tight this vintage, for which I am sorry. If you miss out, the Maipenrai Pinot Noir will be released in October, and should be a bit easier to get as we release it in boxes of 6.  

Wines will be released to

• Gold and Silver Customers on 3 June
• Bronze Customers on 11 June

2016 Amungula Creek Pinot Noir

2015/16 season started off with good spring rains, typical temperatures, and therefore a welcome return to an October 1st budburst. From there the weather suddenly became abnormally warm, with temperatures in the 30s in the first week of October, with the October average high temps more than 5C warmer than the long-term average - smashing the previous records. The warmth continued through mid December with Temps 3C warmer than average during this period, and we, unfortunately, received very little rain. This caused some unwelcome water stress in our vines and reaked havoc with our yields. The weather moderated from mid-December through mid February, and while still above average, was more or less in the zone of normality. Things heated up again in mid Feb and remained warm through vintage.

The ferments were uncomplicated, and we used 15-25% whole bunches given the ripeness of the stems, and pressed the wines after 15 days. Stored in French Oak (30% new) for 22 months - the wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The 2016 Amungula Creek is made from fruit from two nearby Canberra District vineyards. It has a ruby/garnet colour, with a potent and spicy nose. On the medium bodied palate, a wild and complex savoury character is rounded out with a medium backbone of tannin and spiced fruit. A pinot noir through and through, the wine is really meant to be consumed with food. It will provide immediately drinking pleasure, and remain at peak over the next 5 years.

Release of the 2015 Maipenrai Pinot Noir  (Sold Out)

We have now sold out of the 2015 Maipenrai Pinot Noir

it will be available for purchase in small quantities at Plonk, in the Fyshwick Markets, until sold out

Also will also be available at the following restaurants

• Aubergine (Canberra)
• Boffins (Canberra)
• Chairman and Yip (Canberra)
• Grazing (Gundaroo NSW)
• Silo (Canberra)

We will release our latest Vintage of Maipenrai Pinot Noir as follows

Oct 23, 2017: Gold Members

Oct 30, 2017: Silver Members

7am - Nov 6, 2017: Bronze Members

While we made more wine than in any previous vintage (or subsequent), it will likely
still sell out quickly on November 6th. If you have signed up for our Mailing list, you will receive an email from [email protected]

The 2015 Maipenrai Pinot Noir has a complex, intense, earthy nose that jumps out of the glass. On the palate, savoury and meaty, with some plums, the wine is supported by a bit of grippy tannin which will ease over time, and provide a 10 year+ drinking window. Good to try now, but will be even better in a couple of years.

Limit one case of 6 per customer

We are in the process of releasing our 2015 Amungula Creek Pinot Noir. The good news, we have more wine than in previous years. 

Wines will be released to 

• Gold Customers on 28 May
• Silver Customers on 6 June 
• Bronze Customers on 13 June (We Sold out at 6:20pm on 13th of June - sorry for those who missed out)
  

If you have signed up to our mailing list, You will be emailed when the wines are available to you.

The 2015 Amungula Creek Pinot Noir

The 2014/15 season was one of the least complicated vintages in a long time. Good winter rains, normal budburst, and warm, but not hot weather. Indeed, the hottest day of the vintage, was on November 23rd when we hit 37.4C, and the temperature never again exceeded 33C. A huge fruit set - not just on our vines, but throughout the district - meant we had to remove excess fruit - a welcome change to the previous 5 vintages! We picked 5.5 tonnes of close to perfect fruit on March 15th - our largest crop ever (but still only 2.2 tonnes/acre). Our vintage (as well as some astronomy) was featured on ABC Landline

Vinification was very easy for these wines with the wild ferments sailing through in record time. We used approximately 30% whole bunches given the ripeness of the stems, and pressed the wines after 10 days. Stored in French Oak (1/3rd new) for 22 months - the wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The 2015 Amungula Creek is a 50:50 mix of fruit from Maipenrai vineyard, and another nearby vineyard. It has a brickish red hue, and a brambly nose with some dried meat and spice. On the palate, its complex gamy and savoury character is set within a medium body of plummy fruit. The wine has a nice tannin line that defines the palate, but due to 22 months in barrel, is ready to drink now. I expect it to continue to improve over the next 5 years, and be drinking well for at least a decade.