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The Eastern Peake project was set in motion in 1981 when Trevor Mast (winemaker at Best’s Great Western at the time) placed an ad in the local paper looking for potential sites to grow high-altitude, cool climate Pinot Noir. Dianne Pym & Norman Latta having recently purchased their elevated property in Coghills Creek (25km North-West of Ballarat) answered the call, with the first vines going into the ground in 1983. The Latta’s started producing wine themselves from the site in the mid 90’s, with the guidance and generosity of Trevor. During the 1999 vintage Norm sustained a concussion in the winery leaving their then 15-year-old son, Owen Latta to complete the vintage. After completing his studies and a few stints in other wineries, Owen took over from his parents in 2006.
The vineyard sits on a high plateau, 430m above sea level, and is planted to 12.5 acres of Pinot Noir & Chardonnay with some Syrah coming from the property next door (Walsh Block). Farming has been organic since day one, with a focus on regenerative farming starting in 2006, and a move towards Biodynamics in more recent years.
The 2021 Block 1989 Pinot Noir is the darkest in color of the three Pinot Noirs tasted from this estate, and on the nose, it has the most complex register of spice and fruit characters, with blood, blood orange, Satsuma plum, clove, aniseed, cherry, cranberry, a hint of goji berry, salted licorice, graphite, tea, crushed rocks and a gentle sous-bois inflection through the finish. It's a deeply coiled wine with density and reverberation. I like it so much. It really grows in stature in the mouth. It's excellent. The balance is superb, and while it is certainly Pinot Noir, it is also possessed of the unique aspect that is country Victoria. It's a beautiful, evocative, varied and, at times, dramatic place. 13.4% alcohol, sealed under Diam and wax. Wine Advocate 95 (2021)
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