The Schoolhouse Pinot vineyard is a 3.5-acre planting of clone MV6 Pinot Noir on southwest-facing slopes in Woori Yallock, towards the southern edge of the Yarra Valley. The vineyard, situated on grey clay-loam soils, is owned and managed by Ivan and Andrew Ferguson.

2001 was a mild season, generally warm and humid during spring and then dry through summer. Harvest conditions allowed the generous crop to ripen fully and evenly, resulting in balanced sugar and acidity in Yarra Valley Pinot Noir.

The grapes were harvested in excellent condition from 5-year-old vines, at 24 ºBrix and 6.5 grams per litre natural acidity. Vinification involved the combination of techniques commonly applied to premium Pinot Noir around the world. The grapes were destemmed and crushed, and the must was chilled before transfer into small, open fermentation vats. Following a three-day cold-soak, a favoured Burgundy yeast strain (RC212) was introduced to provide the desired fermentation characteristics. Frequent hand plunging and high temperatures ensured a rapid fermentation, and some of the near-dry wine was run off to new French barriques for the completion of the process. The remaining wine was allowed to macerate with the skins for three days or so before pressing. Maturation in barrel, 30% new Tronçais and Allier, was judged complete after 18 months and the wine was egg-white fined, filtered once and bottled in October 2002.

Appearance:			Bright cherry-plum colour of great depth and richness.
Nose:			Rich, ripe Pinot Noir aromas of black cherries and plums overlay complex characters of roasted game and earthy “forest-floor”, supported by sweet, fine-grained French oak.
Palate:			Fine, ripe berry-fruit flavours are at the core of a palate framed by youthful tannins and fresh acidity. Vanilla and toast from French oak provide sweet mid-palate flavours, and the wine finishes with fine-grained tannins. This Pinot shows both richness and complexity, and promises to drink well over the next 3-5 years.