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Killer wines from an exceptional, underappreciated region
Few winelovers give Tasmanian wine much thought, and when they do, it tends to be for sparkling wines, or perhaps a source of cheap Pinot Noir. And that's fine, there are wonderful bubblies and good value Pinots produced in Tasmania. But there's so much more going on, especially at the premium end of wine.
Two Jimmy Watson Trophies (already) this decade has certainly helped capture the attention of collectors and consumers (and both makers are in this offer) but the regions in less than an hour's drive of Hobart - the Coal Valley, Huon Valley, and Derwent Valley - are each producing some particularly exciting wines. Especially in the hands of newer makers.
The producers included in this offer - Chatto, Pooley, Tolpuddle, Home Hill, Sailor Seeks Horse and Glaetzer-Dixon - are at the forefront of quality production. Most are (relatively) new - all have been in the area for around a decade or so (or less) except Pooley, but Pooley has been dramatically re-invigorated with the return home of third-generation Anna and her husband Justin - both former star winemakers at Treasury Wine Estates.
Having spent the past few days there, talking to these makers and seeing the huge leaps forward in vineyard sites and viticultural techniques, we have not yet reached a high watermark. In another decade, or two, I suspect southern Tasmania will be world-renowned as producing some of the most exciting Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Shiraz on the planet. Get on board now!
Happy drinking.
Stewart, Peter, Euan and Marcus.
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| 2015 TOLPUDDLE Chardonnay |
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The beautiful Tolpuddle vineyard was planted in 1988 (by local legend Gary Crittenden no less!) and has had its ups and downs over the past 30 years. The property was purchased by Shaw+Smith in 2011 and no expense spared bringing the vineyard up to its full potential. This glorious Chardonnay is powerful yet refined, with plenty of ripe melon and stone fruit, good depth and length and lovely mineral-driven acidity (yet with ample flavour). Best Tolpuddle Chardonnay so far...
Special Price:
$60
per bottle
Normal Price: $70
15% saving
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2016 HOME HILL
Pinot Noir |
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Surrounded by hills on four sides, this unique amphitheatre site an hour south of Hobart is in the heart of apple-growing country, yet in the mid 1990s a vineyard was established here, planted to a hodgepodge of varieties. And it was Pinot Noir that succeeded best, utilising a unique double-headed Lyre trellising technique that results in a relatively heavy crop of fruit, yet tiny berries and bunches. The result is a rich, flavoursome style that delivers great bang for buck.
Special Price:
$41 per bottle
Normal Price: $48
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| 2016 POOLEY 'Estate' Pinot Noir |
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Anna Pooley has returned home to her parent's winery (established by her grandparents in 1985) in the Coal Valley, less than 30 minutes east of Hobart, and has transformed the quality of wine being produced. This is a blend of their two vineyards, 'Butchers Hill' and 'Cooinda Vale' and is a complex, pleasing expression of Pinot Noir. Earthy and savoury yet with ample red and dark berry fruits, good depth of flavour and impressive finish.
Special Price:
$39 per bottle
Normal Price: $46
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2016 CHATTO
'Huon Valley' Pinot Noir |
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Jim Chatto, winemaker extraordinaire (he's behind the incredible resurgence of Mount Pleasant as a producer of exceptional Hunter Shiraz) has established an amazing 1.5 hectare property deep in the Huon Valley at Glaziers Bay and produces breathtaking, fine, almost delicate Pinot Noir. The 'white label' is mostly estate fruit augmented with fruit from several local vineyards, and has fine, ethereal red berry, floral and dried herb flavours. Will be a label coveted by collectors in future years, and is less than 700 dozen produced. Quality is Jim's over-riding concern, and he succeeds admirably.
Special Price:
$51 per bottle
Normal Price: $60
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| 2015 GLAETZER-DIXON 'Mon Pere' Shiraz |
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The Glaetzer name is revered in South Australian Shiraz circles, so when Nick (brother of Ben, son of John) left SA to establish his own label in Hobart more than a few eyebrows were raised. And when his 2010 Shiraz won the prestigious 'Jimmy Watson' Trophy, the entire Australian wine industry took note. The latest release, from the exceptional 2015 vintage, is beautiful cool climate Shiraz, packed with soft red and dark berry fruits, minerals and beautiful floral flavours. Impressive depth and complexity, quintessential cool-climate Shiraz.
Special Price:
$60 per bottle
Normal Price: $70
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2016 HOME HILL
'Kelly's Reserve' Pinot |
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Following up the Jimmy Watson theme, this wine won two years ago (with the 2014 vintage). The odds of TWO southern Tasmanian wines winning Australia's most prestigious wine award in less than five years would have been astronomical even a decade ago! The Kelly's Reserve has similar fruit flavours to the 'Estate' Pinot Noir from Home Hill, but is much more intense and richly-fruited, with more darker, spicier berry fruit, and crunchy acidity helping lift the wine. Utterly delicious now, yet this will age superbly for a decade or more (if you can keep your hands off!).
Special Price:
$75 per bottle
Normal Price: $88
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| 2013 GLAETZER-DIXON 'Reveur' Pinot Noir |
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Notwithstanding his family background (deeply rooted in South Australian Shiraz), it was Pinot Noir that brought Nick to Tasmania a decade or so ago. This is a blend of fruit from several vineyards in the Derwent and Coal Valleys (within 20 minutes of each other) and comes from one of the warmest vintages Tasmania has seen. As such, the wine is quite rich and powerful, with deep flavour of dark fruits, undergrowth, spice and minerals. Long and complex, with lovely bramble and spice flavours on the finish.
Special Price:
$51 per bottle
Normal Price: $60
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| 2015 SAILOR SEEKS HORSE Pinot Noir |
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There's SO much more to this wine than just a quirky label, SSH is the labour of love by viticulturist and winemaker husband-and-wife pair Paul and Gilli Lapscombe (who are responsible for Home Hill) purchased a dilapidated, abandoned 6.5 hectare vineyard in 2010 and have slowly, lovingly brought the best parts of it back from the brink and are now producing exceptional, delicate, pure Pinot Noir from six clones of quite densely-planted, dry-grown vines. The wine is light and lively, yet full of complex red berry fruit flavours and impressive length.
Special Price:
$43 per bottle
Normal Price: $50
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2015 TOLPUDDLE
Pinot Noir |
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The Shaw+Smith team have done an amazing job in the five years they've had the Tolpuddle vineyard. Whilst the fruit has always been impressive (supplying the flagship 'Eileen Hardy' and 'Arras' labels for years) there is no question that the wines have really stepped up these past few years. The Tolpuddle Pinot Noir is deep and complex, with rich yet savoury fruits in the dark berry spectrum. There's minerals and spice and dried herbs, and added complexity from a significant portion of whole bunch inclusion. Very long, layered and complex finish, this is a standout Pinot.
Special Price:
$70 per bottle
Normal Price: $82
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These wines are available at the offer prices until Monday, 5th September unless sold out earlier. Please note, quantities for all wines are limited, and some extremely limited.
To order, please phone, email or purchase online on our website:
Telephone: (03) 9787 3646
Address: Shop 9, 87 Mount Eliza Way, Mount Eliza, VIC 3930
  
© 2017 Fine Wine Merchant Mount Eliza Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.
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