Moorilla's Canadian winemaker Conor van der Reest is crafting some outstanding wines right now and this pinot is proof that you don't need to spend extravagant sums of money to taste some of the best of the Apple Isle. This is pinot that tastes like pinot (rather than soft dry red) with impressive lighter, velvelty structure while retaining quality fruit flavours. It weighs in at a (relatively) modest 13.7% alcohol and comprises fruit from the St Matthias vineyard in the north of the state. The label is the usual graffiti mishmash, the wine itself far more artistic. $32. www.moorilla.com.au
Gruner-Veltliner, the delightful aromatic white grape variety from Austria, is extremely rare in Tasmania. That's a pity because, as this example foreshadows, gruner should thrive in cool Tasmanian climes. Rugged non-conformists Vaughn Dell and Linda Morice close plan their GV, hand-pick and de-stem with a few hours of skin contact prior to pressing. The wine is naturally fermented in large, old French oak barrels where it remained on yeast lees for 11 months, adding texture but minimal oak elements. The wine was bottled, unfined, in March 2019 and has classic combinations of white stone fruit and citrus notes, hints of minerality and spice and a fresh, brisk finish. This would be fabulous with Vietnamese dishes. $38. https://sinapius.com.au
