The Cups Estate is the creation of Joe Fisicaro and his team’s hard work and dedication to a dream of making world-class wines. The early success of the wines can be contributed to a culmination of an excellent grape growing site and the considerable skills of the grape grower and wine maker; together they make wines of distinct character and elegance. Accordingly, respected wine writers such as James Halliday have stated that the wines are “worthy of a place in any cellar” and the wines have received multiple awards at Australia’s most respected wine shows.

The grapes (100% MV6 Clone) were fully destemmed before fermentation by “wild” or indigenous yeasts in “2 tonne” open fermenters. After a total of 21 days on skins, the wine was pressed and, after a brief settling in tank, transferred to 100% French oak barrels (33% new) for 14 months. Natural malolactic fermentation occurred in barrel and the wine was assembled lightly fined with egg white, and bottled without filtration. Winemaker: Dr. Richard McIntyre

Similar modest alcohol to the standard Pinot, but substantially richer; first-class structure, line and length; lovely cherry, plum and spice fruit. Diam. 13.5% alc. Rating 95. To 2013. $35 - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008