We obtained up early immediately to do hike at Cataract Gorge earlier than wine tasting.
As we speak we visited three wineries on the east coast of Tasmania. The primary one was Milton Winery, which initially was a farm with sheep and crops. In 1980 the primary 2.5 hectares of winery have been planted, however that wasn’t successful. Now they’ve 26 hectares of vineyards and their very own vineyard.
However in addition they nonetheless have 3,500 Merino sheep, that occurred to be sheared once we have been there.
Listed here are the wines we tasted at Milton:
- Reserve Riesling 2021: petrol, creamy, dry, balanced acidity.
- Reserve Pinot Gris 2021 (aged 7-8 months in French oak pungeons): stone fruit, dry, spherical.
- Reserve Chardonnay 2022: inexperienced mango.
- Syrah Rosé 2022: dry.
- Dunbabin Household Reserve Pinot Noir 2021: eucalyptus, recent, ripe tannins.
- Classic Glowing 2012 (65% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, second fermentation within the bottle and lengthy ageing on the lees earlier than disgorgement): complicated, developed, excessive acidity.
There was a principle that the eucalyptus notes in lots of Australian (purple) wines have been attributable to important oil of the eucalyptus within the air across the winery, thus ‘tainting’ the grapes with this. However the eucalyptus aroma is definitely attributable to stray leaves of the eucalyptus timber that find yourself within the ferment, for instance as a result of a leaf obtained caught in a bunch of grapes. Most winemakers don’t need the eucalyptus and attempt to take away the leaves as a lot as doable, however just a few leaves can have already got a noticeable impression on the wine.
The second vineyard we visited on the east facet of Tassie was Gala. The cellar door was positioned in an previous put up workplace. Gala began as a farm and nonetheless has 10,000 Merino sheep. The wines we tasted are from 11 hectares of vineyards planted in 2008. An extra 15 hectares have been planted in 2018, however no wine has been produced from these vines but. Gala doesn’t have their very own vineyard, however ship the grapes to a vineyard in Hobart to be made into wine in line with Gala’s specs.
At Gala we tasted:
- White Label Riesling 2022: crisp.
- White Label Pinot Gris 2023 (4 months in previous oak): pear, construction, good.
- White Label Sauvignon Blanc 2023: crisp, fragrant.
- White Label Rosé 2023 (85% Pinot Noir, 15% Shiraz): purple fruit, off-dry.
- Black Label Pinot Gris 2021 (8 months in previous oak): full physique, wealthy, construction.
- Black Label Chardonnay 2022 (10 months on French oak, 25% new, partial malolactic): mango, stability, recent.
- Glowing Classic Rosé 2017 (70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, second fermentation within the bottle, aged 2 years on the lees and an additional 2 years after disgorgement): complicated, toast, fantastically fragrant, gentle mousse.
- White Label Pinot Noir 2022 (5 months in previous oak): purple fruit, good gentle tannins.
- Black Label Pinot Noir 2019 (8 months in French oak, 20% new): jammy purple fruit, oak, stability, construction.
- Constable Amos Pinot Noir 2020 (12 months in French oak barriques, 25% new): purple fruit, ripe tannins.
- Black Label Emerald Syrah 2021 (10 months oak, 25% new): little bit of eucalyptus, clean, recent.
The third and last vineyard on the east coast was the family-owned Freycinet Winery. This was the primary vineyard on the east coast of Tassie, established in 1979. There are solely 16 hectares of vineyards throughout the 1400 hectare property. They’ve their very own water provide, which is necessary on this dry a part of Tasmania. Opposite to many others, Freycinet began as a vineyard and has later added sheep. The winery of Freycinet has among the oldest vines on Tassie and is likely one of the warmest. It’s so heat, that even Cabernet Sauvignon can ripen there.
We tasted these wines:
- Riesling 2023: ripe stone fruit, crisp, balanced acidity.
- Chardonnay 2021 (aged on French oak, 25% new, no malolactic, however lots of stirring of the lees): oak, tropical fruit, good acidity.
- Schönburger Riesling 2023 (93% Schönburger (cross of. Xxxxxx) and seven% Riesling): floral, barely candy (16 grams of residual sugar), balanced.
- Pinot Noir 2020 (15 months in French oak barriques, 25% new): recent, ripe tannin, oak, purple fruit, construction; wants extra time within the bottle.
- Shiraz 2018 (2 years French oak and a little bit of American oak, 25% new, then 2-3 years within the bottle): black pepper, spicy, oak, recent, elegant tannins. That is cool local weather fashion, however utterly ripe (no herbaceous notes).
- Cabernet Merlot 2017 (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2 years in French oak of which 25% new, then an additional 3 years within the bottle): eucalyptus, agency ripe tannins, juicy.
- Botrytis 2021 (Riesling and Chardonnay affected by noble rot, blended with dry Sauvignon Blanc (aged in 2nd fill oak) and Schönburger for stability): lovely aroma, honey, candy (160 grams of residual sugar) however balanced with freshness.
It was an extended drive to Hobart from there, however there have been some good views alongside the best way.
In Hobart we had dinner on the Previous Wharf, with some extra Australian (largely Tassie) wines.
