Awards and Ratings
96/100 – Huon Hooke
“Deep-ish red with a tinge of purple and a bouquet of black cherry with traces of beetroot and Campari—perhaps from whole-bunch fermentation. The wine is full and generous, even opulent on the palate, with terrific power and density thanks to high extract and concentrated fruit. The tannins are abundant and supple, surrounding a deep core of rich flavour. Long and super-satisfying aftertaste. A seriously impressive pinot and a big step up from the previous vintage.”
About This Wine
The Mt. Lord Vineyard lies on a steep, protected easterly slope of the Pontos Hills overlooking the Coal River Valley. Low-yielding, multi-clonal blocks are meticulously hand managed throughout the season to produce a detailed expression of place. Fruit was handpicked, with a portion fermented as whole clusters and the remainder destemmed. After a slow fermentation, the wine was pressed into French oak barriques (30% new) for ten months, with malolactic fermentation occurring in spring. Selected barrels were blended and cellared for eighteen months before release.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Cranberry, blue florals, olive tapenade, liquorice root, damp earth and clove, with darker notes of plum skin, blueberry, Tasmanian native herbs and dried thyme emerging with air.
Palate
Medium-bodied with fine tannins and bright, linear acidity. Red cherries and tamarillo layered with five-spice and flinty mineral notes, showing restraint and depth.
Specifications
Vintage: 2023
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Mt. Lord / Coal River Valley / Tasmania / Australia
Winemaker: Peter Caldwell
Vineyard: Multi-clonal; dolerite soil; predominantly east facing; 134–156m elevation; nine-year-old vines
Fermentation: Handpicked; partial whole bunch; wild ferment; open-top fermenters; 14–16 days on skins
Maturation: Ten months in French oak barriques, 30% new; eighteen months bottle age before release
Alcohol: 13.5%
Drinking Window: 2025–2028