Tolpuddle Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021

Planted in 1988 on a steep, east-facing slope in the Coal River Valley, Tolpuddle has become one of Australia's most celebrated Pinot Noir sites since Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith of Shaw + Smith acquired it in 2011. The dry, sheltered conditions and poor, well-drained soils give naturally low yields and fruit of remarkable concentration and finesse. The 2021 comes from a cool, even season in southern Tasmania, which suited the vineyard's refined style perfectly.

In the glass, it offers a fragrant lift of red cherry, wild strawberry and raspberry, woven with notes of rose petal, forest floor and a subtle thread of spice. The palate is silken and layered, with fine-grained tannins and bright, cool-climate acidity carrying a long, savoury finish. It's approachable now for its perfume and purity, but it will reward cellaring over the next eight to ten years or more.