NEW RELEASES: *2023 Estate Pinot Noir & 2023 Estate Chardonnay*

 
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Our stories

We love to notice and mark the changing of seasons, the sighting of a new birds' nest, or our unceasing wonder at the seamless enrichment that biodynamic viticulture provides our pristine environment. Working in rhythm with nature ensures we are vigilant in the vineyard, and follow that attention to detail through to the winery and the table. As fifth and sixth generation winegrowers, we value family, tradition and progression, and we hope our stories strike a chord with you – hopefully so much that we're lucky enough to one day hear yours.

Saluti!

Steve and Monique Lubiana.

Monique Lubiana
 
1 July 2024 | Monique Lubiana

2022 Collina Chardonnay - Winner at the International Wine Challenge

Our 2022 Collina Chardonnay recently won three trophies at the 2024 International Wine Challenge (IWC). The IWC is judged by an extensive panel of wine professionals. Our 2022 Collina was awarded 96 points and was the winner of three categories - Best Tasmanian Chardonnay, Best Australian Chardonnay and Best Australian White.

We only make our Collina Chardonnay in exceptional years and the 2022 vintage is the first vintage of this wine since 2020. We grow our Collina to be low yielding and comes froms a variety of soil types from our Granton Estate. The predominate soil type is grey chalky gravel over white gravelly clay. Chardonnay from this terroir generally have pronounced acid and fine aromatics. The 2022 Collina is captures both power and elegance, with a generous palate and a long line of acid. This in turn offers long cellaring potential.

The comments from the 2024 IWC Chair of Judges - "Light golden colour with extremely attractive notes of spice - nutmeg and cinnamon - on the nose, along with stone fruit flavours. The palate is beautifully balanced and poised with a tremendous finish."

Time Posted: 01/07/2024 at 12:34 PM Permalink to 2022 Collina Chardonnay - Winner at the International Wine Challenge Permalink
Monique Lubiana
 
4 June 2024 | Monique Lubiana

2022 Single Block Pinot Noirs - The World of Fine Wine Review

The soil type of each of the Single Block Pinot Noirs underpins their unique profiles. Our Ruscello block’s terroir is silty grey loam over white gravelly clay. The Il Giardino block sits over a cracking black and red clay base over patches of gravelly chalky limestone deposits. While the terroir of La Roccia is mostly terra rossa soil, with a crumbly red topsoil and deep red clay over marl clay with limestone chalk and mudstone bedrock. 

Reduced yields allow the vines to focus its energy to their root system, delving deeper and wider into the soil to absorb more minerals and nutrients. All three Single Block Pinot Noirs are vinified the same way, highlighting each individual terroir.

UK wine writer Sarah Ahmed from The World of Fine Wine recently reviewed these terroir focused wines in an feature on Tasmanian wines. To read the full article follow this link. Our 2022 Il Giardino and La Roccia recieved equal top points with the 2022 Tolpuddle Pinot Noir. Continue to read on for the reviews of our 2022 Single Block Pinot Noirs:-

2022 Ruscello Single Block Pinot Noir  -  95 Points 
'From a parcel near a small creek on silt over porous gravelly clay, anise and cinnamon soar alongside the deep-scented, sweet, ripe fruit. The palate is lithe, with supple acidity, black, red, and blue berry, cherry, currant, plum fruit, and subtle radicchio and mulch hints. Layered and expansive, warm terra-cotta tannins support. Sensual, with the balance and stature to age well'

2022 La Roccia Single Block Pinot Noir  -  96+ Points 
'A shower of fine, mouth-coating, millefeuille tannins, which cloak and enmesh the fruit, lending gravitas. With time and air, it reveals glimpses of a seam of red cherry/cherrystone, blackcurrant, and blueberry fruit, yet to be mined. Chalky, mineral acidity maintains the flow. Classy oak polishes to a fine sheen. Impressive structure from a hillside block on deep red clay marl over clay, with limestone bedrock. Embryonic.'

2022 Il Giardino Single Block Pinot Noir  -  96+ Points 
'Located adjacent to La Roccia, with a more northerly aspect and heavier silty black clay with gravel topsoil over clay and limestone. Emphatically red-fruited, with pomegranate, cranberry, cherry flesh, skin, and stone. Sappy green and inky floral riffs emerge. Sculpting bright acidity defines and animates the fruit. Graphite and chalk spray tannins cleave close, tapering the youthfully inscrutable finish. Great potential.'

 

Time Posted: 04/06/2024 at 11:00 AM Permalink to 2022 Single Block Pinot Noirs - The World of Fine Wine Review Permalink
Monique Lubiana
 
12 April 2024 | Monique Lubiana

2021 Chicane Merlot Malbec

We only have small plots of Merlot and Malbec planted in our vineyard, the vines for both of these varieties are 23 years old. As a result of this, we make 3 to 4 barriques in an average yielding year of our Merlot/Malbec blend.  These 2 varieties are some of our last grapes to be picked at our Granton estate, which is known for its warmer soils and milder climate compared to some of the cooler sites around Tasmania. We reduce the crop load in the cooler seasons to eliminate any under ripe tannins and we pick the grapes when the sugar in the fruit has reached close to 14 baumé.

These small parcels of grapes are hand picked then destemmed and spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts slowly starts after a short cold soak.  Once fermented the wine is left on skins for a time before the wine is drained and the skins are basket pressed.  We use a basket press for all of our red wines.  Basket pressing is a gentle process which reduces oxidation during pressing compared to a tank press.  This type of pressing tends to save the wine from any astringent characters on the finish that can be overly dry or sometimes bitter.

Maturation is the next important step.  The wine is barrelled down to our underground cellar where it is stored in French oak barriques for 16 months, with 30% new oak.  This wine is bottled under cork with no fining. Bottled in July 2022 our Chicane has been cellared for almost 2 years before release ensuring the wine is well-rounded and the tannins have softened ready to be relished.

The hue is dark scarlet velvet red and the nose is a sweet bouquet of wild bramble, mid summer rose, musk and molasses.  The palate tastes like raspberries that are so ripe they are falling apart, black cherries, plump blackberries, as well as aromatic cedar and spice. The front palate texture is silky and plush with depth and dry chalky tannins that have a pomegranate and rhubarb texture and after taste.  Merlot and Malbec varieties are graced with a full-bodied mouthfeel and length and, in these departments, this wine does not disappoint. The food match for this wine is game meat of all sorts, lamb, venison, mushrooms and vintage aged cheddar cheese. 

 

Time Posted: 12/04/2024 at 2:00 PM Permalink to 2021 Chicane Merlot Malbec Permalink
Monique Lubiana
 
6 February 2024 | Monique Lubiana

Growing Season 2023-2024 Report

The 2023 winter was the driest in many years which resulted in consistent wallaby and hare invasion, snacking on 1-2 tonnes of potential premium crops.  Crop damage was reduced once our fences were repaired.  Our flock of sheep, who kindly mow the grass over winter, were relocated to our western property at Hayes, 28km from Granton, in the last week of September.  This was due to the earlier than usual bud burst in early October which is approximately, 10 days earlier than the norm.

In general, the growing season of 2023-24 was dominated by warm overcast days with a major rain event of 20mm in the second week of January 2024.  We also experienced high winds at flowering in early December that may have contributed to poor flowering set in some of our more exposed plantings.  Yields, particularly in our Chardonnay vineyards are better this season compared to last but it is too early to tell if yields will exceed 2023.  Quality winemaking causes yields to be managed, if the weather does not do it for us.

Verasion commenced in the third week of January however lately the evenings and mornings have been very cool if not cold.  Overnight temperatures have gotten down as low as 10 degrees celsius, slowing ripening.  Delayed ripening is good in our case as it builds flavour whilst the sugar content increases.

Netting of the vineyard is expected to take place this week beginning the 5th of February. Depending on the weather we are expected to start harvest between the 20th and 26th of February with the intake of sparkling fruit.  The lowest yielding premium wines will follow soon after with Sasso Pinot Noir and then Single Block Pinot Noirs.

Generally speaking we are very happy with the current shape of our vineyards.  We have controlled the weeds much better this season with consistent blading and tilling, we managed to repair a lot of the damaged infrastructure as a result of machinery use rather than synthetic sprays.  Drip lines, irrigation sub mains, broken steel and wooden posts, trellis wires and some replants have mostly been ticked off the repair list.  Although repairs and maintenance of our vineyard are not the most exciting and glamorous parts of our business, they are worth the investment in producing an excellent result and quality wine.

Time Posted: 06/02/2024 at 10:00 AM Permalink to Growing Season 2023-2024 Report Permalink
Monique Lubiana
 
9 January 2024 | Monique Lubiana

2023 Pinot Gris

Our Pinot Gris is grown on a gravel base covered in red loam with patches of riverbed silt.  Facing north this soil forms part of the western bank of the Derwent river.  Our Pinot Gris plot was planted in 1991, the vines now being close to 30 years old.  The vine’s root system is now well established deep into the soil horizons below.  The gravel element infuses a perfumed aroma and contributes savouriness and minerality to the palate.  Southern Tasmania allows its crops a long and mostly mild and dry ripening period bestowing tiers of flavour.  This wine’s texture is generally attributed to barrel fermentation.  As well, the grape’s thick skins and the vine’s low yields, often unique to cool climate biodynamic viticulture, creates body.  Steve and Marco artfully and skillfully ferment the grapes into wine that is more akin to European Pinot Gris examples rather than those produced in Australia.  This is due to small batch winemaking where the grapes are processed as soon as they are picked and the must is fermented on full lees in puncheons (100% 500L French oak barrels) with a portion chilled and left on skins for 2 nights.  Colour and tannin are extracted by this cold soaking technique.  Rested over winter in the same puncheons, the wine is then bottled in early summer.

Tasting note: In the glass our 2023 Pinot Gris shows a slight golden blush. The nose builds with cut straw, rose perfume and spice.  The palate's texture is lucious with ripe fruit characters, apricot, pear and quince.  The ample tannin and alcohol cut the palate's sweetness, as the 2023 vintage is less dry than the past 2 vintages, and the finish is long and clean.  We recommend matching this wine with delicious white meat dishes, assorted cheeses and lightly sautéed summer greens.

Time Posted: 09/01/2024 at 2:00 PM Permalink to 2023 Pinot Gris Permalink
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