Icon-Level Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir — Named for a Typeface, Built for the Ages

The 2023 Hurley Vineyard Garamond Balnarring Pinot Noir is one of the most celebrated and sought-after Pinot Noirs in Australia — a wine of extraordinary aromatic complexity and precision from the Balnarring sub-region of the Mornington Peninsula. Named for the Garamond typeface in the tradition of Hurley's typographic wine naming, this is a wine that rewards attention and demands a worthy occasion.

My Wine Man on Hurley Vineyard

Hurley Vineyard was established by Dr David and Tricia House in 1998 on the Balnarring plateau of the Mornington Peninsula — one of Australia's most celebrated cool-climate wine regions. The estate names all its wines after typefaces: Garamond, Lodestone, Hommage, and Emoi — a quietly distinctive touch that reflects the care and attention to detail that goes into every bottle. Garamond is the estate's most celebrated wine, sourced from the oldest and most expressive vines on the property. The Mornington Peninsula's cool maritime climate and the Balnarring plateau's elevation and aspect give the wine its extraordinary aromatic lift and precision.

Tasting Notes

Garamond smells of a sweet shop and a pastry outlet rolled into one — red lollies, mint, roses, and frangipane strawberry tart. How enticing. Sure, it has the requisite cherry accents and savoury notes, blood orange too, and it's tangy, a little tart across the palate where sinewy tannins jostle with the perky acidity. A wine that needs food as a partner — and rewards it magnificently.

Style & Drinking Window

Medium-bodied with sinewy tannins and bright, perky acidity. Drinking well now with decanting and will continue to develop through 2030–2033. Decant for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Best with food — duck, salmon, mushroom dishes, or pinot-friendly charcuterie.

Why This Is a Must-Buy

At HK$988, the Hurley Garamond delivers icon-level Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir from one of Australia's most celebrated small producers. Extraordinary aromatics, Balnarring plateau provenance, and a wine that consistently ranks among the finest Pinot Noirs produced in Australia. A serious collector's bottle.

Looking for a Different Style?

Explore more icon-level Pinot Noir:

• 2020 Felton Road Block 3 Pinot Noir — peer icon-level Pinot Noir from Central Otago, New Zealand's most celebrated Pinot producer
• 2023 Bay of Fires Pinot Noir — peer premium cool-climate Tasmanian Pinot Noir at a lower price
• 2020 Home Hill Estate Pinot Noir — peer Tasmanian estate Pinot Noir from the Huon Valley

Life's too short for bad wine.