Laurel Bank is a small north facing vineyard near Hobart, along the Derwent river. This proved a first class expression of cool climate dry riesling and has aromas of stones, smoke and lemon. The palate is dry, with crisp acidity and good length. Ready to drink now, this wine should improve over the next decade…Continue readingLaurel Bank Riesling Tasmania 2016
This syrah from Riversdale Estate is from a different vintage (2015) and is quite different in style to their 2017 syrah reviewed here. It opens to distinctive aromatics of brine, wet rosemary and sea salt. The palate is wild, gamey and spicy. Some length is there under the layers. Light to medium bodied, this wine…Continue readingRiversdale Estate Tasmania Syrah Block 20 Musca 2015
Riversdale Estate is in the warm (for Tasmania) Coal River Valley region. Their 2017 syrah is pretty good. As befits the climate, this syrah is northern Rhône like in terms of style rather than South Australian (think Saint Joseph) with aromas of red fruit, pepper, cloves, mineral and gravel. The palate is medium bodied, with…Continue readingRiversdale Estate Syrah Tasmania 2017
Ten Minutes by Tractor have again managed to produce a number of high quality, interesting and varied single vineyard pinot noirs, this time from the 2016 vintage. This is a warm and early vintage in the Mornington Peninsula as outlined in my post on the whites (see here) and the vineyards are the same, with…Continue readingTen Minutes by Tractor – 2016 single vineyard Mornington Peninsula (and Tasmania) pinot noirs
After tasting a very good earlier vintage from this highly regarded Tasmanian pinot noir label (possibly the 2015), the 2016 was more typical than enthralling. There’s a worked aroma of stems, rosemary and florals. The palate is mid weight and fruity in expression, cherries mostly. Rating: Good. Abv: 13%. Price: $80.Continue readingTolpuddle Pinot Noir Tasmania 2016
This is a pretty pinot noir from Stoney Rise in the Tamar Valley in Tasmania. The 2015 vintage has aromatics of rhubarb, struck match and a whiff of cedar. It’s not particularly varietal. The palate is medium bodied with some light CO2 and chirpy acidity. (Alc: 12.5%, Region: Tasmania, Rating: Good, Would I buy it…Continue readingStoney Rise Tasmania Pinot Noir 2015
There was a time when I could relatively easily spot Tasmanian sparkling wines in amongst Champagnes in a blind tasting. The give aways? More primary fruit, lower acidity, less yeast and a honeyed character even in young releases. No longer. Tasmania is Australia’s premier sparkling wine region and comparisons with Champagne are comfortable in quality…Continue readingKreglinger Vintage Brut 2004
Is there a better value wine than Australian riesling? High quality Australian riesling is not limited to the Clare Valley, Eden Valley and Great Southern either. Tasmanian riesling in particular continues to impress, even though in 2015 it accounted for a tiny 7% of that State’s crush and only 1.6% Australia wide. Here are some…Continue readingA couple of new release rieslings from Riversdale Estate Tasmania and Lowe Nullo Mountain
I was impressed by the 2014 chardonnay from Pipers Brook in Tasmania. The grapes are sourced from northern Tasmania, grown on volcanic soils and from vines with age up to 40 years. In terms of key stylistic influences in the winery, the wine saw 20% new oak and parts of the blend underwent malolactic fermentation,…Continue readingPipers Brook Vineyard Chardonnay 2014
I have been slowly reading through Tony Walker’s new book Vintage Tasmania: The Complete Book of Tasmanian Wine (Providore Island Tasmania, 2014). I won’t talk about the book now, other than to note that it has an interesting cross reference in it to a Wine Tasmania website. Hitherto undiscovered (by me that is), Wine Tasmania has…Continue readingTasmanian vineyards map
Riversdale Estate is situated in the Coal River region of Tasmania, and have produced here a lovely riesling. With latitudes including the 42s, while mainland Australia does not breach the 40 degree mark, it comes as no surprise that Tasmania is starting to realise its potential for cool climate wines. This riesling is dry and…Continue readingRiversdale Estate Roaring 40s Riesling 2015
This Tasmanian sparkling wine is made from the classic Champagne varieties of pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier. It’s a good wine, with aromatics of lemon and some toast. The palate is dry, with very racy acidity, lean lemon pith characters and a fine mousse. Another good Tasmanian sparkling wine. Rating: GoodAbv: 12.5%Price: $30Source: sampleVendors…Continue readingNinth Island Tasmania Sparkling NV