Pressing Matters 2024 Pinot Noir Rosé

Here is a delicious wine for spring and summer from a Tasmanian producer with two estate vineyard sites and a total of 12 hectares just outside Richmond in the Coal River Valley. The Melick family has built a formidable reputation for both its rieslings and pinot noirs. This is a rosé with real vibrancy and crunchy lift made from 100% estate pinot noir grapes. Pale and aromatic with wild strawberry/rose petal notes on the nose, the palate has grapefruit, green apple and pomegranate zing. Plenty of length here; plenty of appeal. Serve lightly chilled. $43. https://pressingmatters.com.au/

Stargazer 2023 Palisander Riesling

 

Not only is this one of the most fascinating rieslings in Australia, it is also one of the most delicious. So much palate interest, so much drinkability. Made from grapes grown on winemaker Sam Connew's Palisander estate vineyard north of Hobart, this was fermented in ceramic and concrete eggs and then left on lees for 10 months. The result is delightfully herbal, floral and dry with citrus, sherbet and lightly spicy purity on the palate. It is a wine full of drive and energy with bright acidity and hints of sea spray on the finish. Pair with Vietnamese spring rolls, or a fresh green salad. $50. https://stargazerwine.com.au/ 

Delamere 2024 Flyleaf Pinot Gris

 

Delamere duo Fran Austin and Shane Holloway produce some of Tasmania's most-acclaimed wines; from setellar sparklers to high-end table wines. What is less well known is that they also have a "value" range, Flyleaf, made from grower fruit sourced from around the state that offers a taste of the island state at an accessible price point. This new release is a case in point, It's fresh and vibrant, textural, unoaked, food-friendly and ready for immediate enjoyment with its pear/ginger/citrus elements and bright acidity more akin to grigio. A lovely bright wine for summer quaffing. $40. https://www.delamerevineyards.com.au/    

42 South 2024 Pinot Noir

 

If you like your pinots young, fresh and vibrant and ready for immediate enjoyment you've come to the right place.  This entry level wines from Frogmore Creek winemaker Alain Rousseau offer a whole lot of bang for your buck. A brand-new release made from estate-grown Coal River Valley fruit, this is perfect for enjoying lightly chilled on a spring day. It is fresh and vibrant with classic cool-climate pinot characters; nicely poised with red cherry flavours to the fore and there is no need top cellar this - it is probably best enjoyed in its youth with a salumi platter, or a picnic. $32.  https://www.frogmorecreek.com.au/

Moores Hill 2024 Pinot Rosé

 

There are surprisingly few pinot rosés made in Tasmania. It simply makes economic sense that most of the fruit either goes towards sparkling wines, or table pinots. The few rosés made from pinot noir offer some delightful summer drinking. This one is from a consistently excellent small producer in the Tamar Valley and returns after not being made in 2023. It turned out that a 0.3 hectare block of pinot noir located in front of the winery proved ideal for making rosé with bright strawberry and red fruit flavours and lively acid on the finish. Aromatic, crisp and best enjoyed chilled. $35. https://www.mooreshill.com.au/

Corryton Burge 2019 Martha Mae Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay

There are several mainland brands now opting to use fruit from Tasmania for their premium sparkling wines, ensuring cool-climate purity and elegance. The Barossa-based Burge family's new label has released this stylish Tasmanian pinot noir/chardonnay blend as a tribute to great grandmother Martha Mae. It has been aged for three years on lees before release and is fresh and vibrant, with citrus and green apple notes, but also elegant with an energetic mousse. Well-priced and very food friendly. $45. https://www.corrytonburge.com/sparkling-collection/ 

Pooley 2024 Gewurztraminer

 

I had a sneak peak at the Pooley 2024 whites and rosé releases earlier this week, and fans are in for a treat. The quality is excellent across the board. There are only a handful of gewurztraminer wines made in Tasmania's and this is up there with the best - and a perfect foil for a lightly-spiced Thai stir fry. This is made from 40-year-old vines located in the north of the state - and exception in a range where most wines are made from Coal River Valley fruit. Fermented in stainless steel with three months on lees, this has 7.5gl of sweetness but finishes crisp and lively with classic rose petal, pear and Turkish Delight/musky elements. Enjoy young and chilled. $42. www.pooleywines.com.au.