Spring Vale 2024 Melrose Pinot Noir

 

Looking for a gloriously gluggable, vibrant and no-nonsense Tassie pinot noir that you can put in the fridge for an hour or two on a warm day?  This lighter-style pinot delivers fun drinking without breaking the bank: a classic "vin soif" designed to be enjoyed in its youth; fresh, zesty and refreshing. Think red fruits plucked fresh from a hedgerow, a soft, supple palate driven by fruit not oak, and lively acidity on the finish. Pair with anything from a charcuterie plate to Lebanese mezze. $32. https://www.springvalewines.com/

Bream Creek Vineyard 2019 Reserve Old Vine Riesling

 

Bream Creek on the Tasman Peninsula has some of the oldest riesling vines in Tasmania, planted in 1974. They produce intense, lively young wines on release, or more savoury offerings if held back for a few years. This will not be to everyone's taste but if you enjoy mellow, aged whites the you will be in luck. This is from a dry vintage that produced intense flavours that merited a reserve bottling. There is a lot of restrained power here with classic citrus flavours along with some straw and sea spray notes on the palate. A wine for sipping and savouring. Pair with a vegetable quiche. $50. https://www.breamcreekvineyard.com.au/

Jansz 2019 Single Vineyard Chardonnay

 

From one of the pioneers of Tasmania's buoyant sparkling wine industry - Jansz was founded in 1986 - comes a single vineyard, single variety bubbly with a confident strut. Made exclusively from estate vineyard blocks at Pipers River - close to the cellar door. This is very taut and pure - think shortbread/brioche notes - with a swag of acid on the finish. This is a wine designed to be enjoyed with food; perhaps matched with canapes or hors d'oeuvres, but with enough palate oomph to pair with main courses. Only 3563 bottles were made, and this is produced only in stellar vintages. Sold in attractive gift box. $68. https://www.jansz.com.au/    

Sonnen 2024 Blanc

 

If you enjoy your white wines with a bit of swagger and attitude then this brand new release will be right up your street. Sonnen is a personal gig for winemaker Luke Andree, who works with Samantha Connew and makes wines for Pressing Matters in the Coal River Valley. This is made from fruit sourced from the Tamar Valley in the north of Tasmania and joins impressive 2024 chardonnay and pinot noir releases in the Sonnen range. This is made from pinot gris with a small portion seeing 10 days of skin contact, the remainder being direct pressed. Fermented in old oak for texture and palate interest, this is savoury, grippy and very food friendly. $35. https://www.sonnenwine.com.au/

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/