Sailor Seeks Horse 2024 Pinot Noir

 

The new release pinot noir from Sailor Seeks Horse delivers exactly what you would expect from one of best of Tasmania's new wave of wine producers. Paul and Gilli Lipscombe have built a formidable reputation for quality since taking over a deserted and overgrown vineyard in the Huon Valley a decade and a half ago. Their wines now have an international reputation and are found in top restaurants and wine bars, as well as being exported to key markets - most recently to Singapore. Very long, very precise. Structured, sappy, and potentially long lived. From a warm. dry year, this was wild fermented with a tiny amount of whole bunch material. It saw mainly aged oak and has impressive spice and dark cherry notes. Just lovely. $70. https://www.sailorseekshorse.com.au/

Trial Bay Estate 2024 Pinot Noir

 

So you like to support artisan producers? They don't get much more micro than Trial Bay Estate at Kettering, a hamlet in the d'Entrecasteaux Channel south of Hobart. Trial Bay produces just one single vineyard wine each year from its 2 acres of vines - and there were just 895 bottles made in 2024. That's bottles, not cases. Some wines just leap out of the glass with their youthful vitality and this is an excellent example; turbo-charged with vibrant fruit character from the hand-picked grapes that are organically grown, although not certified. Red berries and French oak are well aligned and previous vintages have rewarded cellaring for 4-5 years. $55. https://www.trialbayestate.com.au/