Curly Flat is an estate winery in the Macedon Ranges region of Victoria, Australia, north-north-west of Melbourne.

Owner: Phillip Moraghan. He claims his high altitude vineyard is the coolest in Australia, producing the latest picked Chardonnay on the Australian mainland (Jancis Robinson MW: 2 Mar 2009). He has extensive experience of Burgundy, working vintages there, with the de Montille family for example.

Vineyards: ‘Windy, high-altitude property. Moraghan [says] that on average Curly Flat is four degrees Celsius cooler than the city [of Melbourne] and experiences much bigger diurnal temperature variation,’ (Jancis Robinson MW: 15 Apr 2013). 

Viticulture: From 2005 Moraghan stopped using herbicides (see here for his views on the benefits of this change) and adopted some Biodynamic practices. Main Pinot clones are 114 and 115.

White wines

Chardonnay, Curly Flat: ‘Usually 40-60% malolactic fermentation, and 100% in some vintages (Jancis Robinson MW: 15 Apr 2013). 

Chardonnay, Macedon Ranges, Lacuna: 100% Chardonnay. Made to a Chablis style, Moraghan says. | 2000 Produced. | 2005 Produced. | 2006 Produced. | 2011 Produced. Wetter than usual season. | 2012 Rain again but less than 2011.

Pinot Grigio: White wine.

Red wines

The Curly Pinot Noir, Macedon Ranges: 2001 Lovely fresh colour (this from magnum) bit duller on palate but good at the Aurora Ozone Hotel on Kangaroo Island, Saturday evening 19th March 2011.|  2003 Heatwave year. | 2004 Bottled with both DIAM cork and screwcap. | 2008 Hot year. | 2009 Poor flowering. | 2010 100% whole bunch. 100% new oak

Contact

Curly Flat

263 Collivers Road, Lancefield

Victoria 3435

Australia

Website: www.curlyflat.com

Bibliography

Jancis Robinson MW (2 Mar 2009), ‘Eminent Victorians’, www.jancisrobinson.com

Jancis Robinson MW (15 Apr 2013), ‘Curly Flat’s recent gems’, www.jancisrobinson.