Cornelius Armitage Pinot Noir
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, wild mushroom risotto, herb-crusted rack of lamb
✨ Technical Specifications
The Cornelius range represents the pinnacle of Scotchmans Hill's winemaking, showcasing the unique microclimates of the Bellarine Peninsula. Named in a nod to the region's early pioneering history, the 'Armitage' Pinot Noir is sourced from a premier single-vineyard site characterized by self-mulching black volcanic clay soils over limestone. This terroir, cooled by the relentless maritime breezes of Bass Strait and Port Phillip Bay, allows for a long, slow ripening period. In the cellar, traditional techniques are employed, including wild yeast fermentation, a small portion of whole bunches for structural complexity, and extended maturation in premium French oak barriques. The resulting wine is a sophisticated, savory expression of cool-climate Pinot Noir, balancing dark cherry fruit with complex notes of forest floor, game, and fine-grained tannins.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1982 by David and Vivienne Browne on an erstwhile dairy farm, Scotchmans Hill stands as the pioneer and quintessential benchmark estate of Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula within the Geelong wine region. Perched atop the peninsula's extinct volcanic outcrop, the vineyards benefit from fertile black basaltic clays over limestone subsoils, complemented by maritime microclimates moderated by Port Phillip Bay and the Southern Ocean. Under the stewardship of long-tenured Chief Winemaker Robin Brockett, who joined the fold in 1988, the estate champions low-intervention viticulture certified under Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. Brockett's cellar philosophy prioritizes site-driven purity, native fermentations, sensitive French oak integration, and extended lees maturation. Scotchmans Hill produces distinguished cold-climate expressions, most notably its flagship Estate and Cornelius Chardonnay, tactile Pinot Gris, and estate Sauvignon Blanc, alongside celebrated regional ventures like the Henry Frost Riesling and approachable Jack & Jill tiers.
🍇 Grapes
Pinot Noir
🍷 ABV
13.5%