Glaetzer Dixon Family Winemakers 2023 Überblanc

Überblanc is winemaker Nick Glaetzer's Tasmanian tribute to the elegant style of rieslings made in Pfalz region of Germany - an area he worked in while learning his craft. Glaezter, who works from an urban winery in Hobart (visit if you get the chance), is best known for his red wines, but this has a cult following for its crisp but textural appeal. It is beautifully balanced with lees treatment adding to the mouthfeel and structure. Think citrus; think minerality, think immediate drinking pleasure. The fruit is a blend of 70% Tamar Valley from the north of Tasmania and 30% from the Coal River Valley outside Hobart. $30 each by the dozen from the webiste. We paired this with seared tuna and aubergine. It worked a treat. https://www.gdfwinemakers.com/ 

Holm Oak 2023 Chardonnay

 

Looking for a vivacious, cool-climate chardonnay that is very food friendly? You've come to the right place. Husband and wife team Tim and Bec Duffy have come up with the goods with this new-release Tamar Valley chardonnay that offers a lot of immediate drinking pleasure. Like most Tassie chardonnays, this is elegant and high in natural acidity. There is nice balance between lemon and white stone fruit characters while French oak and natural ferment are key elements in creating palate interest, along with partial malo and occasional lees stirring. There is youthful drive while the finish is driven by brisk acidity. Pair with poultry dishes for max pleasure. $40. www.holmoakvineyards.co.au

Stefano Lubiana 2022 La Roccia Pinot Noir

Stefano, Monique and Marco Lubiana are at the vanguard of organic and biodynamic winemaking in Tasmania. This is one of a trio of individual site pinots they release annually to demonstrate the difference that can exist between grapes grown on three different blocks, all within 500 metres of each other. This compellingly nuanced pinot is made from fruit grown on terra rossa soil with limestone chalk on their estate at Granton, north of Hobart and overlooking the River Derwent. It is a serious wine with plenty of depth of flavour and definite stony minerality. All three wines - the others are the Rusecllo and Il Giardino - are made using 100% whole bunch and wild ferment before being gravity filled into large format, mainly older, French oak. Unfined, unfiltered and deserving of at least five years in the cellar. $110. slw.com.au      

Moores Hill 2022 Pinot Noir

 

Solar-powered Moores Hill is a popular stop-off for anyone visiting the Tamar Valley with a cellar door that has great vineyard views and wines that offer good value for money. This is one of the rare pinots from Tasmania that sells for under $40. Pinot noir is a fickle, demanding grape and most Tasmanian producers are extremely small scale operations. This is a classic cool-climate pinot with cherry and wild strawberry aromas and flavours to the fore with just a hint of pepper/spice. Soft, easy drinking is on offer here with 30% new French oak, gentle plunging, 12 months maturation and vegan fining completing the package. Undemanding and serious fun. $40. https://www.mooreshill.com.au/

Kate Hill 2022 Sauvignon Blanc

This is a sauvignon blanc for people who might not be fans of the variety. I occasionally help out at Kate Hill's cellar door and find it appeals to a lot of folk who initially say: "I'll pass on the sauvignon blanc". With definite tropical fruit notes rather than green/herbaceous characters, it is a lovely wine for enjoying on the porch after work, or with a late-season picnic. The wine spent six months in aged oak barrels, so could legitimately be labelled as fumé blanc. Time in bottle has given it a bright but rounded finish. One of only a few savvy blancs in Tasmania and worth checking out. Serve well chilled. $33. www.katehillwines.com.au

Frogmore Creek NV Ruby Pinot Noir

 

Given it is consistently the coolest wine growing region in Australia, Tasmania is not noted for its fortified wines. It is, in fact, surprising that a winter warmer like this exists at all. Winemakers Alain Rousseau and John Bown have crafted a drink that is ideal for enjoying in front of the fire on a cold Tasmanian winter evening. With 114 grams of residual sugar, this has Christmas cake and toffee notes. 100% pinot was fortified with premium brandy spirit and enjoyed extended barrel maturation using the Solera system over a 10-year period. $40 for 500ml.

Stargazer 2023 Riesling

 

Sam Connew's wine journey has taken her from New Zealand to McLaren Vale, the Hunter Valley and now Tasmania, where she is crafting outstanding wines from both her Coal River estate vineyard and some grower fruit. The 2023 vintage was a difficult one but several Stargazer releases shine, including this one, made from a grape that can produce outstanding wines in Tasmania but is often overshadowed by chardonnay and pinot noir. This single-vineyard release from Tea Tree has some apple and Asian fruit characters alongside the classic citrus notes and finishes with lively acidity and freshness and a hint of fruit sweetness. Wild ferment adds a textural element and there is plenty of length here. Pair with Thai or Korean dishes. $36. https://www.stargazerwine.com.au/