Woodlawn 2023 Three Wishes Vineyard Pinot Noir

Woodlawn is the premium wine brand from Ricky Evans, the talent behind the Two Tonne Tasmania and Havilah labels, and comprises small-batch, single-site releases of pinot noir and chardonnay from the Tamar Valley. All are sold in heavy bottles sealed with wax with strikingly stark labels. A serious statement. This one comes from the Three Wishes vineyard planted by the Whish Wilson family over 25 years ago. It is made in the small winery at Evans' Woodlawn farm. This is an aromatic, concentrated, varietal wine with impressive depth that you could pair with a roast lamb en croute right now, or confidently cellar for a few years. $70. https://tttwine.com.au/collections/woodlawn-tasmania

Holm Oak 2024 Shiraz

 

Cool-climate shirazes from Tasmania are increasingly find favour with wine drinkers looking for more subtle/elegant takes on the grape variety. With the 2024 vintage wines coming from a warm, dry year at Rowella in the Tamar Valley, that created perfect conditions for fine, peppery shiraz. I really liked the immediate drinkability of this one, which has moderate alcohol but plenty of flavour. Red fruit and spice notes are aided and abetted by quality French oak (just 20% new) that sits comfortably in the background. Fruit driven, medium bodied and a statement that there is more to Tasmanian reds than just pinot. Pair this with poultry dishes, or maybe roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. $50. www.holmpoakvineyards.com.au.  

Two Tonne Tasmania TMV Chardonnay 2025

 

Here's one of the stars from a batch of impressive new 2025 TTT releases from Ricky Evans - the pinots and riesling are also well worth seeking out. Evans makes wines under the TTT and Woodlawn Park labels as well as running popular Launceston wine bar Havilah and is a proven star on the Tasmanian wine scene. This is a lovely cool-climate chardonnay from Evans' home ground in the Tamar Valley, pure and linear with enticing chalky minerality. Whole-bunch, fermentation in older big format oak and some malo for palate complexity have delivered a wine with immediate appeal and brisk natural acidity/salinity on the finish. Very impressive - one for Burgundy lovers priced out of that market. Look out for this label. $39. 

Holm Oak 2025 Pinot Gris

Winemaker Bec Duffy and her viticulturist husband Tim make an impressive range of fairly-priced, cool-climate wines at their Rowella property in the Tamar Valley. If you are looking for a white to accompany a Thai green chicken (or vegetable) curry then you might like to try this vibrant option. It has freshness allied to palate interest sparked by 10% of the wine being wild fermented in older oak barrels and 10% wild fermented in tank; adding complexity. You'll find white pear and apple fruit notes here along with texture, a hint of bitter almonds, and crunchy acidity on the finish. Serve chilled. Drink now. $32. https://holmoakvineyards.com.au/

Holm Oak 2023 The Wizard Pinot Noir

 

Another outright winner from a family-owned Tamar Valley producer that makes top-notch wines across several price points. Bec and Tim Duffy's vineyard at Rowella produces excellent quality cool-climate fruit and this is estate-grown, made and bottled. It is a wine for those who like their pinots with plenty of flavour and structure. Some of the fruit comes from younger vines with clones selected for offering structure and complexity. The 30% whole-bunch material helps lift the mouthfeel game with maturation in French oak barriques for 12 months. So think dark fruit flavours, well balanced oak and cellaring potential. Save this one for the cooler months and pair with a rich winter casserole. $65.  https://holmoakvineyards.com.au/

Small Wonder 2024 Landscape Chardonnay

 

Small Wonder is from the vineyard in the Tamar Valley that used to be called Goaty Hill - always a source of quality fruit. This is very smooth, stylish and sophisticated cool-climate chardonnay; a blend of New World swagger and Old World charm. It is a wine that has been picking up trophies on the international stage - and it's easy to see why. Whole-bunch pressing and wild ferment had added character to the cool-climate appeal. Think citrus, poise and delicious balance. Structure has been aided by quality French oak. Drink now, perhaps with pork spare ribs, or cellar short term $35. https://www.smallwonderwines.com.au/ 

Holyman 2024 Pinot Noir

 

If you are looking for a light, fun and frivolous pinot noir then you have come to the wrong place. This is a powerful, assertive pinot that has much in common with its rucking and rolling cousins from Central Otago, Even at just 12% alcohol this is a rollicking good time in a glass and it could well be considered as a cellaring prospect if you are that way inclined. Made from grapes grown on 39-year-old unirrigated vines in the Holyman family's estate vineyards in the Tamar Valley, and matured in new and newish) French oak. Pair with duck and game dishes for maximum pleasure potential. $65. https://www.stoneyrise.com/ 

Holm Oak 2023 Shiraz

Shiraz from Tasmania? Yes. And a very good one, too. It certainly found favour with the members of one of my tasting groups last week. You won't confuse this with any of its blockbuster cousins from McLaren Vale or the Barossa: it is a very different beast with red fruit flavours to the fore, along with attractive pepper/spice elements that shine in well composed cooler-climate shirazes. This is from a family winery in the Tamar Valley and reminds me of an old armchair, soft, plush and comfortable. It is medium-bodied, ready to enjoy in its youth paired with anything from beef sausages to a Sunday roast. $50. https://holmoakvineyards.com.au/

Stoney Rise 2024 Trousseau

 
I was going to write about the excellent Stoney Rise 2025 Chardonnay before being captivated by this unusual offering from the ever-eclectic Joe Holyman, a winemaker who is always happy to push the boundaries. I believe this is the only Tasmanian take on the trousseau grape, also known as trousseau noir, bastardo and merenzao. The grape variety originates in eastern France and is also used to make port in Portugal. If you enjoy wines made from gamay, or cabernet franc, then this crunchy number will be right up your drinking alley. It is a delightfully brisk, no-nonsense red from 10-year-old estate vines in the Tamar Valley. It has what Holyman describes as cranberry and red cherry fruit flavours. He recommends pairing with tuna ceviche and kimchi pancakes. Who am I to disagree? $42. https://www.stoneyrise.com/

Holm Oak 2025 Riesling

Tasmania gets a lot of attention for its stellar sparkling wines, as well as world-class chardonnays and pinots noir. What is often overlooked is that riesling can also thrive in the cool climes, much as it does in the Canberra region. This is a stellar cool-climate offering from a family-owned and -operated vineyard in the Tamar Valley in the north of the state. It is impressively floral with tangy citrus characters playing the lead role. There is plenty of lively acid on hand and this finishes dry with lots of length. We paired it with a hearty Toad in the Hole with braised leek, but it would also work well with seafood and poultry dishes. Very well priced at $32. www.holmoakvineyards.com.au.      

Holm Oak 2021 Hotshot Pinot Noir

 

A rather bland label disguises the flagship pinot noir from family-owned Tamar Valley winery Holm Oak. At four years of age, this has developed in to a lovely wine that combines power and poise in the style of Central Otago. Made from small batches of estate fruit and produced only in outstanding vintages, this has impressive structure thanks to the use of whole bunch material. The fruit was basket pressed and matured in French oak (50% new) for 14 months. The end result: complexity and style and a balance between dark red fruits, deli and undergrowth notes, allied to that intense concentration. $130. https://www.holmoakvineyards.com.au/ 

Westella Vineyard 2021 Sparkling Rosé

 

Westella is a small operation at the northern end of the Tamar Valley where the Adkins family concentrates exclusively on one grape: pinot noir, albeit made in a range of styles. This sample was supplied by Wine Tasmania and pronounced a hit by my tasting group. Pale salmon in colour it is a lively little number with wild strawberry and poached pear characters on the palate, a playful mousse and fresh, lively acidity. This spent 2 1/2 years on lees before emerging with coqeuettish appeal. A fun and versatile aperitif style. $46. https://westellavineyard.com.au/