Delamere Vineyard PInot Noir 2023

The Delamere Pinot Noir 2023 reflects the elegance and precision of Tasmania’s Tamar Valley, sourced from estate vines between 23 and 42 years old. The cool climate and deep red-ferrosol soils provide perfect drainage and tension, shaping a wine of fragrance, purity, and longevity. The 2023 season, shaped by a third consecutive La Niña, brought high rainfall and cooler conditions, yet careful canopy management and a fortuitous dry spell in early April allowed the fruit to ripen to perfection.

Hand-harvested fruit, with 30% whole bunch inclusion, was fermented naturally in open-top fermenters, hand-plunged, and matured for 9 months in Burgundian oak (30% new). The result is a wine that is tightly coiled yet already fragrant, built to blossom beautifully over the next decade.

Tasting Note
Lifted aromas of strawberry, raspberry, and violets flow into a palate of redcurrant, cedar, potpourri, and aniseed. Fine cocoa-powder tannins and a line of mineral acidity carry length and precision, finishing with lingering notes of violet, dark chocolate, and chinotto.

Small-Batch Detail

• Region: Tamar Valley, Tasmania

• Vine Age: 23–42 years

• Whole Bunch: ~30%

• Fermentation: Indigenous & cultured yeasts, open-top, hand-plunged

• Maturation: 9 months in French oak (30% new)

• Alcohol: 13% (approx.)

• Cellaring: 2025–2035

Expert Reviews
⭐ 95 Points – Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion (2024)

“Gamey and twiggy with red/dark cherry, plum, exotic spice, amaro herbs, shoyu, earth and pressed wildflowers. Sweet raspberry high tones on the palate, sinewy tannins, and a minerally line that provides plenty of tension and cadence.”

⭐ 95 Points – Aaron Brasher, The Real Review (2024)

“Lifted aromas of blueberry, dark cherry, Asian spice, sap, bramble and underbrush. Mouth-filling, plush and long in flavour. Textured tannins and bright acidity deliver drive and energy.”

⭐ 93 Points – Gary Walsh, The Wine Front (2024)

“Raspberry, cherry, capsicum spice, caramel and cinnamon, a little meaty. Bright, sappy, tangy blood orange acidity, pumice stone tannin and a spicy strawberry finish. Zesty, uncompromising style.”

⭐ 93 Points – James Suckling (2024)

“Lifted aromas of wild strawberry, rose and iodine. Medium-bodied, with finely integrated tannins and acidity. Notes of raspberries, dried herbs and forest floor. A savoury, drying finish with floral undertones.”

FinePinot Note
A tightly-wound yet fragrant Tasmanian Pinot Noir, the 2023 Delamere promises elegance and complexity in equal measure. Perfect for roast duck with cherry glaze, wild mushroom risotto, or grilled salmon.

Tasmania, Australia

(Image source : Tolpuddle Vineyard)

Tasmania is Australia’s southernmost wine region. Its commercial vineyards date back to 1823, when Bartholomew Broughton planted the first vines. Incidentally, the very first vines in Victoria and South Australia also originated from Tasmania. The Tasmanian wine industry then lay dormant for nearly 100 years due to the gold rush, with commercial winemaking only resuming in the 1950s. After 70 years of development, Tasmania has become synonymous with premium wines, especially Pinot Noir. The island is divided into several sub‑regions—Tamar Valley, Pipers River, Derwent Valley, Coal River Valley, Huon Valley, and the East Coast. Among these, Coal River Valley is the most sought‑after: the winner of the 2024 Australian Pinot Noir Challenge hails from there, as does the highly coveted Tolpuddle Vineyard Pinot Noir. For a Pinot Noir enthusiast, this is a region not to be overlooked.