Complete focus on quality at Mount Pleasant

When tasting a batch of wines, I generally zero in on one or two favourites.

That proved extremely hard to do with the recent new-release shirazes from long-time Hunter Valley standout Mount Pleasant, which has not missed a beat since changing ownership. 

Winemaker Adrian Sparks says more changes are on the way and Mount Pleasant is now a 100% estate grown and 100% Hunter Valley winery, having ceased buying grapes from other vineyards or regions. 

"We have recently reduced our vineyard land holdings from 88 hectares to 49 hectares, removing young vines that had been neglected due to the final years of McWilliams financial woes and the 18 months [the company spent] in administration," Sparks says. 

"This has allowed us to focus on our key blocks and to do what we do best; old vines and blends. The addition of an optical sorter has ensured we only are working with the best fruit. Prior to 2022, we had no sorting capability at all." 

And the vineyards are also getting care and attention under the Medich family, who have also completely revitalised the cellar door. 

"While not classified as organic or biodynamic, we use a pragmatic approach to farming for each vintage and are registered with Sustainable Winegrowing Australia as we continually improve our impact on the environment," says Sparks.

 

So forward march then. 

The new releases are: 2023 Mountain A Medium Bodied Dry Red ($100);  2023 Rosehill 1946 Vines Shiraz ($175); 2023 Rosehill Shiraz ($65),  2023 OP&OH Shiraz ($65), 2023 Mothervine Pinot Noir ($65) and the peculiarly Hunter blend 2023 Mount Henry Shiraz Pinot Noir ($45). 

If I'm put on the spot as to what to drink now, then I'd probably go the exquisite OP&OH over the younger vines Rosehill Shiraz. 

The Mountain A and the 1946 vines are probably the best cellaring candidates. All the wines are worth a look. I'm sure Mount Pleasant visionaries the late Maurice O'Shea and Phil Ryan would be content.

See https://www.mountpleasantwines.com.au/

Change of direction at historic Hunter estate

Mount Pleasant is one of the great names of the Hunter Valley; a historic estate under new ownership.

Chief winemaker Adrian Sparks (above) this week unveiled a new direction for Mount Pleasant - with a definite focus on quality. 

"Our strategy focuses on scaling back our offering and looking to the past for inspiration for the future," Sparks said in a letter to wine club members. 

"The last few years have seen some challenges, to say the least," he added. "But we have worked through where we see the future for Mount Pleasant and have built a solid strategy for moving forward.

"For a number of years Mount Pleasant pursued the model of being everything to everyone, trying to survive in a flooded market, and moving away from its core values. 

"We are blessed with some of the greatest vineyards and stories in Australia, and these are fundamentally who we are today.

"We have spent countless hours tending to vines that were planted because of the early 2000s wine export boom and were not part of our heritage. 

"These young vine blocks were worked too hard and had very little money spent on them. We have therefore decided to remove these vines, grown for quantity rather than quality, and vines that are now suffering.

"Our focus into the future will be one of celebrating our history and our nucleus. By making wines that reflect what Mount Pleasant is, and more importantly what has made Mount Pleasant great. Old Vine Shiraz, Lovedale Semillon, and reigniting the wonderful art of blending multiple varieties - all which make good wines, but combined will make great wines.

"We are excited to announce the release of the first of these blends; our Light Dry White and Light Dry Red, made in very small quantities in 2023 as we begin to understand the intricate art of blending these for the first time. 

"These are wines based on style, wines that evoke a sense of joy when drinking and a desire to learn more about the Hunter Valley and Mount Pleasant, something which [legendary winemaker] Maurice O’Shea excelled at.

"We will continue to redefine Mount Pleasant by focusing on the detail of grape growing and winemaking. 

"With reduced land under vine, this will allow us to take the time to home in on the one percent adjustments that are required to make wonderful wines. Wines that show the hallmarks of Mount Pleasant, which is balanced, beautiful drinking wines in their youth, and timeless expressions of site as they age."