Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant
Australia • Hunter Valley
While the vaunted history of craftsmanship here is indisputable, the reds have ebbed from the reductive tension championed by former chief winemaker Jim Chatto, to a more relaxed expression under new maker Adrian Sparks. Sparks seems to have a predilection for mid-weighted, lower-alcohol styles of red, not dissimilar to the great Hunter River Burgundies crafted by Maurice O’Shea. This is a style that is as aspirational today as it was revered then, gleaned from a polyglot of historical vineyards, variable geologies and stylistic patinas, including expressions of the Old Paddock and Rosehill vineyards. The whites, too, feel less austere. However, their fealty to the regional pedigree of steely, long-lived Semillon is clear.
NED GOODWIN MW
Founded by Maurice O’Shea in 1921, who’s contribution to Australian wine cannot be understated. He is widely known as the founding father of modern Australian winemaking.
Having recognised his French roots in the hills of the Hunter Valley, Maurice O’Shea set out to express the old-world elegance he knew lay dormant. Selecting sites that so many had overlooked, and with a perfectionist’s determination, he established vineyards that, to this day, are recognised as some of the most prestigious and expressive in all of Australia.
Our rare ancestral vines include some of the oldest clone plantings in the country. This makes our Old Hill vineyard, while best known for Shiraz, the oldest Pinot Noir vineyard in Australia.
As you step into our historic restored homestead, you will discover the complexity of Hunter Valley Shiraz and Pinot Noir, and the aging capabilities of our widely acclaimed Lovedale Semillon, which is regarded as one of the greatest Semillon vineyards in the world.
Our chief winemaker, Adrian Sparks, has crafted a selection of tasting experiences that showcase the beauty and individuality of our unique and historic vineyard sites, that capture an honest, true story of place and time long after they’ve been bottled.
Mount Pleasant is a winery that, for over 100 years, has challenged conventions and set the standard for modern Australian winemaking.
Many have followed, but there is only one Mount Pleasant.
Winery of the Year in the Wine Companion 2017.
Wines We Carry
To view our current wines from this producer, please download our wine portfolio.