Pinot Noir

SMALL WONDER VINEYARD

2023 Pinot Noir - $55

A wet spring meant poor flowering across Tasmania, reducing yields significantly yet the rest of the season was relatively peaceful if cooler than normal. Despite the lower yields the cooler season ensured picking was about 'normal' in the old money so resulted in wines that were both restrained and elegant but intense. An excellent vintage if truth be told.

The Pommard clone from this site and its red-fruited, pepper-spice aromas and plush, sweet fruited palate combines with a touch of bitterness to taste like it has had a bit of whole bunch fermentation but it hasn’t! 

SAILOR SEEKS HORSE VINEYARD

We made two Pinot Noirs from our vineyard in 2022 - the, for-want-of-a-better-word, 'estate' Pinot Noir and then, for the frst time, a Dijon Clone Pinot Noir. 

Even though the 2022 season fell into another La Nina event, we had good rainfall early on and then, as seems normal these days, the tap was turned off in the new year. So we had a fairly pleasant, dry, if not particularly sunny summer with a return to more typical yields compared to 20/21/23. After the previous two years it was a relief to use a few more fermenters in the winery with the fruit tasting great and the end of the season finishing off ripening nicely. 

As the wines developed in barrel we tasted some blends and discovered a combination of the three low-yielding Djon clones (115, 114 and 777) resulted in a higher-toned, more spice-driven wine with a slightly denser palate weight than our normal Pinot. We loved it and so decided to bottle it separately! 

2022 Pinot Noir - $65

Wild ferments, gently plunged twice daily, then left on skins post ferment until the tannins aligned and pressed straight to barrel. 5% whole bunch. 10% new oak, mix of barriques, hogsheads and puncheons. 12 months in oak, 3 months in tank pre-bottling. Sulphured mid-summer. Unfined
Savoury, blue/red fruit, sappy, classic SSH nose, garrigue, flow.

2022 Dijon Clone Pinot Noir - $85 - SOLD OUT

Blend of 777, 115, 114. Same treatment as the main blend during ferment then 24% new oak and no whole bunch. Elevage same as the main Pinot Noir.
Strawberry, cream, sandalwood, weight, lightness of touch combined with structure, sapid.