The chilly early mists, exhilerating maritime breezes and undulating terroirs of Mornington are heaven sent for the realization of Burgundy styled Chardonnay wines. Half the plantings at Hillcrest Road are Chardonnay, one and a half acres of a single clone, originally intended for an elite sparkling Cuvee. Such is the quality of fruit, its remarkable concentration of flavour and flawless acidity, choice parcels are set aside for a pure varietal wine. Structured, seamless and intense, single vineyard block Mornington Chardonnay of the highest order.

Painstakingly husbanded to excruciating standards of viticulture, Hillcrest Road Vineyard is dry grown and closely cropped at less than two tonnes per acre, for vintages of extremely limited yields. It is a small, pampered site which affords the Circe team a rare indulgement of attending to each vine as an individual, focusing on every detail and maintaining a meticulous vigil on the soils. The quality of fruit speaks for itself, as there are no substitutes for footprints in the vineyard. Those parcels of hand picked and hand sorted Chardonnay, which merit inclusion into a pure varietal wine, are treated to an old world style of vinification, extended exposure to gross sedimentery lees and luxurious French oak treatments.