Haddow + Dineen 2024 Sehnsucht Riesling

 

Haddow + Dineen is a joint venture between Bruny Island cheesemaker/brewer Nick Haddow and former Josef Chromy winemaker Jeremy Dineen. You can sense they having a lot of fun with their idiosyncratic small-batch releases. This is a tribute to some of Germany's finest wines; a riesling made from grown at Sorrel in the Coal River Valley. Think indigenous ferment, some skin contact and a wine that is unfined and unfiltered. There is a lot of flavour here, and a lot of texture, too. Vibrant and delicious; this one sings in your mouth. Sehnsucht is a German word that can be translated as "yearning", or "craving". $45. https://www.haddowanddineen.com.au/ 

Parish Vineyards 2024 Pinot Gris

Tasmania may be best known for sparkling wines, pinot noir and chardonnay, but it also a source of excellent cool-climate rieslings and pinots gris that are floral and zesty. This is a recent release from the team behind the Jansz sparkling labels, using fruit from small vineyards dotted around the Apple Isle. This comes from a vineyard at Evandale, near Launceston Airport. It is deliciously refreshing, with lifted pear notes and bright acidity. Its sibling, a 2024 riesling from Sorrel, east of Hobart, is equally impressive. We paired the PG with a post-Christmas turkey biriyani, but it could also go well with seafood, poultry dishes or summer picnics. $36.

Caledon Estate 2023 Pinot Noir

 

An impressive wine from a new business based in the Coal River Valley outside Hobart. Caledon is a family vineyard outside of the hamlet of Richmond and its grapes are vinified by Matt Wood at Spring Vale on Tasmania's east coast. This is a wine of lovely balance, weighing in at just 13.5% alcohol, that is ready for immediate enjoyment - perhaps with roast turkey. The Stewart family planted 11 hectares of vines in 2019 and they are clearly thriving. This is dangerously drinkable with currant and red cherry aromas leading to a medium-bodied palate with red fruits and apple crispness. Immediately approachable. Certainly a name to watch out for. $50. https://www.caledonestate.com.au/  

Josef Chromy NV Tasmanian Cuveé

Looking for a quality cool-climate sparkling wine for the festive season? Here's one that offers excellent value from the Josef Chromy estate at Relbia, just down the road from Launceston Airport. There is plenty of freshness and vibrancy here, making it a good choice for a party, but also an interesting flavour profile that would suit being paired with hors d'oeuvres. Think green apple, citrus and hints of toasty/brioche notes. Made from pinot noir (57%), chardonnay (42%) and a dash of pinot meunier and pinot gris, all grown on the estate. Available online at josefchromy.com.au, at cellar door or at selected BWS and Dan Murphy’s stores. $35.

Spring Vale 2024 Rosé

Spring Vale is home to one of the loveliest cellar doors of Tasmania's east coast, and to some of the best-value wines on the island. This one is an ideal choice of serving chilled over summer, with a picnic, or a vegetarian platter, or just because. The grapes are grown on the estate property that has been owned by the same family since 1870. This is pale salmon pink in colour with bright lifted aromatics and a refreshing dry finish with hints of tropical fruits and a crunchy texture, savoury notes and bright minerally acid on the palate. A fun wine that is perfect for quaffing after work. $32. https://www.springvalewines.com/

Broad Arrow 2023 Pinot Gris

 

Broad Arrow wines are made from fruit grown at the Spikey Bridge vineyard, south of Launceston, and the label has a cellar door at the Clarendon Arms Hotel in nearby Evandale. Production is small, but this is an impressive savoury white, midway in style between pinot gris and pinot grigio. The wines are made by the talented Jeremy Dineen, for many years the chief winemaker at Josef Chromy. Think pear and stone fruit flavours with some brisk acidity on the finish. One for drinking sooner rather than later to enjoy the fruit characters. $32. https://broadarrowwines.com.au/ 

Small Wonder 2023 Auburn Pinot Noir

Tasmania is arguably Australia's best source of quality cool-climate pinot noir with Small Wonder, previously known as Goaty Hill, among the most consistent producers. The wines are made by Andrew Trio, and this, and its sibling chardonnay, mark the first new label released by Small Wonder since the opening of its new winery in Kayena on the western ridge of the Tamar Valley in January. A vineyard en route to organic certification has produced a wine that is both stylish and savoury, thanks to some astutely judged use of French oak. An excellent example of quality Tassie pinot. $52. www.smallwonderwines.com.au