Pinot Noir 2022

Hailing from insular Australia, the Tolpuddle Pinot Noir comes from the Coal River Valley vineyard in Tasmania, a region located about twenty minutes' drive southeast of Hobart. Planted in 1988, this site benefits from a cool, maritime climate that lengthens the ripening season and promotes slow and steady grape maturation, while limiting diseases thanks to moderate rainfall. The light silica soils over sandstone and a gentle northeast exposure allow for an excellent expression of Pinot Noir, combining elegance and aromatic depth, characteristic of this exceptional appellation.

The winemaking of Tolpuddle Pinot Noir is based on a very technical approach that respects the fruit. The bunches are harvested by hand then fermented in open stainless steel and wooden vats, combining whole berries and whole clusters, with gentle pump-overs and punch-downs to extract matter without aggressiveness. Alcoholic fermentation lasts about ten days, followed by natural malolactic fermentation, then aging takes place for almost ten to eleven months in French oak barrels, a significant portion of which are new or recently used, to provide structure and finesse without masking the purity of the fruit.

This wine reveals notes of black cherry and raspberry, highlighted by hints of plum, nuances of sweet spices and garrigue, with accents of damp earth, undergrowth and minerality that blend with discreet wafts of vanilla. On the palate, the attack is fresh and expressive, the texture velvety, supported by a lively acidity and fine tannins that are perfectly integrated, bringing tension and length. The aromatic complexity extends to a balanced finish, where the delicacy of the fruit meets elegant sapidity and a finesse that invites aging.

Australia began producing wine more than two centuries ago. This has resulted in a country rich in old vines, multi-generational winemaking families and an ingrained knowledge and respect for craftsmanship. Add to that a thirst to explore and innovate, a fearless attitude and a diverse notebook of 65 wine regions in many climates, and you have the makings of an extraordinary wine country unlike any other. Australia burst into export markets in the 1980s and since then has been providing the world with vibrant, fruity and exceptional value wines. Until the late 1990s and early 2000s, Australian wine history was dominated by examples of Shiraz, Grenache and overly concentrated red blends. Between these two extremes lies the diversity of Australia's offering of high quality and regional wines that has always existed. Australian viticulture is mainly concentrated on the southern oceanic edge where conditions are cooler. There are four main wine regions located around major cities. Western Australia around Perth, South Australia around Adelaide, Victoria around Melbourne and New South Wales around Sydney. The country is one of the largest wine producers in the world, and was the 4th largest exporter in the world in 2011. This recent development now makes Australia one of the most prominent countries for the quality of its wines. You can taste Australian wines all over the country. Each Australian region has its own grape varieties. Australian wines are defined by their grape variety, unlike French wines which are defined by their terroir.