For over 20 years the wine trade has known that the Leongatha region and surrounding areas enjoys the conditions required to produce excellent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Why it so rarely does is another story! Mount Macleod's three vineyard sites, all in the Leongatha region, were selected to an exacting criteria; free-draining, high ironstone soils with pebbling throughout and an east to north-east aspect. Mount Macleod is the second label of the Burgundian-inspired and boutique-scaled Caledonia Australis and in their fairly short lifespan they have carved a reputation amongst Pinot cognoscenti as a fine source of excellent value, aromatically complex and elegant Pinot Noir. The 2009 comes replete with a new label that matches its content for quality and shows excellent density and richness. It's full of cherry and poached plum fruit characters and savoury, forest floor complexity. The palate is silky and succulent - dare we say quite Burgundian - with quality French oak influence and the balance is a model for rival Pinots at this price. For the dollars asked, this is the complete package.