Description
This is tight and tense though it?s not missing flavour, spice, earthy notes or that sense of sous bois that these EP wines seem to ooze. It spreads beautifully in the palate, sheets of lacy tannins in tat work, long ribbons of dark cherry, dried perhaps, that wonderful undergrowth character, light truffley-mushroomy notes and yet brisk, fresh acidity finishes it all and bundles things up perfectly. Such charm and goodness. 95 points ? Mike Bennie, The Winefront
Eastern Peake Vineyards are set on a small plateau at Coghills Creek in the Ballarat Highlands some 25 km from Ballarat. A dramatic backdrop of a rugged granite outcrop of Mt Bolton, namely ?Eastern Peake? is to the west of the vineyard, creating the stunning view seen from the property. The east the vineyard overlooks the Mammaloid Hills of the Creswick Plains, named by Major Mitchell during his epic trail.
The Eastern Peake Vineyard was established in 1983, the first plantings being 8 acres of Pinot Noir followed by 4 acres of Chardonnay in 1991. In 1994 the decision was made to establish a winery and cellar door facility at Coghill?s Creek. The winery was completed in time for the 1995 vintage.
Eastern Peake is positioned at 430 metres above sea level, which is relatively high within Australian vineyards. The vineyard is a flat relief between fertile undulations. The site was originally selected for a vineyard by the late Trevor Mast (most famous for Mt Langi Ghiran). The soil is duplex in nature with clay loam basalt overlying a subsoil of clay and fine iron stone. The cool climate is ideal for producing high quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Through meticulous organic viticulture, the fruit from the vineyards arrives at the winery in peak condition, meaning that no additions during the winemaking process are ever needed. All acidity is natural, the yeasts are indigenous, and malolactic fermentation occurs naturally. The wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered. Nothing added, nothing taken away.