Nestled in the slopes of the Brokenback Range in NSW’s lower Hunter Valley, Mount Pleasant is the producer of many classic wines and has firmly established its place among Australia’s premier estates. Mount Pleasant keeps alive the pioneering spirit of its heritage, creating benchmark Hunter Valley wines.
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The quality and longevity of Mount Pleasant wines is regularly recognised on the Australian wine show circuit. The winery is today one of the most awarded in Australia, having been awarded an incredible five Championships, 128 trophies, 500 gold, 500 silver and 1104 bronze medals since the late 1970s.
Maurice O’Shea was the eldest child of the Irish John August O’Shea and the French Leontine Beaucher. When his father passed away, it was Leontine who arranged her eldest son’s trip to France in 1914 at the age of 17.
The influence of Leontine O’Shea on the development of her son Maurice and the creation of Mount Pleasant cannot be understated. Leontine was instrumental in his 1914 journey, and subsequent education, in France and purchased the initial Mount Pleasant property.
It was in 1921 that O’Shea, having just returned from France, persuaded his mother to purchase a 16.3 hectare property on the rich, volcanic soils in the Parish of Pokolbin, in the Hunter Valley.
Leontine then extended the holding by purchasing two adjoining parcels of land. Maurice O’Shea named the site Mount Pleasant. It was at Mount Pleasant that Maurice began his pioneering work in table wines.
The retro label is a near-perfect evocation of the original O’Shea labels, although he had no chardonnay; this is a very good example of modern Hunter Valley that conclusively proves you can’t make top quality examples from a hot climate. Delicate white peach, nectarine and melon fruit is given complexity by some funky wild ferment aromas and a touch of cashew on the finish. James Halliday, James Halliday Wine Companion
Bright golden pale straw. Subtle peach and nectarine fruit complemented by nuances of struck match and mealy nutty aromas. The palate immediately opens with ripe yellow peach and nectarine fruit flavours with hints of guava and melon, a mineral acid backbone adds line and focus to the palate and is complemented by a touch of grapefruit natural ferment ‘funk’ and mealy notes, coupled with a judicious use of french oak, add further texture and complexity to build a well rounded, full bodied style of Chardonnay. A wine to be enjoyed now or will reward careful cellaring for up to seven years from vintage.
McWilliams Mount Pleasant
Address 40 Marrowbone Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Telephone 02 4998 75 05
Open Dally 10am to 5pm
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