Bob McDonald

9.4

The colour is becoming more tawny since my last tasting in 2023. Lovely aromatics of red fruits and Sous Bois. Manages to combine the characteristics of both Tasmania’s Coal River Valley Pinot Noir and Steve Flamsteed’s excellent winemaking (ex Giant Steps Yarra Valley). I have previous Delectable notes on this wine. Sweet red cherry. Fleshy and supple. This wine scooped the pool at the 2019 Royal Queensland Wine Awards winning Best Pinot Noir of Show; Best Red Table Wine; Best Single Vineyard Red and Grand Champion Wine of Show. Since the acquisition of Giant Steps by the Jackson Family I’m not sure that the Nocton Vineyard is still made? Postscript: Research on line indicates that no vintage of Nocton was made after this one in 2018. — 3 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Pale crimson in colour - nearly transparent. Has that luscious mouthfeel typical of many Tasmanian Pinot. Great palate intensity. Cherry with some stemmy herbal notes. One of those wines where the pale colour doesn’t prepare you for the profound palate intensity. Only 20% whole bunches in the ferment which shows sensitive intuitive winemaking. Winner of the Trophy for the best Pinot Noir at Royal Adelaide and also at Royal Hobart Wine Shows. Incredible value for such a highly awarded wine: 6 bottles @ $39.95 each. Luckily I have 3 bottles left. Plan to have one each year - 2027, 2028 and 2029. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

See previous note for this 2017 vintage 143 weeks ago. An impressive Coal River Pinot from Tasmania. Still showing those aromatic red fruits on this very pretty nose. Just the right amount of whole bunch used in the ferment. Pooley Pinot should be an annual purchase. — 7 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Top flight Tasmanian Chardonnay from Tolpuddle in the Coal River made and owned by Shaw and Smith. A logistical challenge shipping the grapes from Tasmania to the Adelaide Hills in refrigerated containers to Shaw and Smith HQ where the grapes are crushed and vinified. Initially the wine is lean when tasting - perhaps a little young. Lemon and grapefruit fruit notes and barrel ferment characters with a 10 year life ahead. My first of 3. The next in 3 to 5 years by which time I expect more stone fruit textures to be apparent. 98 points from Huon Hooke. — 16 days ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.4

Consistently exceptional
You truly need a bottle of this wine at reach always.
Easy drinking, but also deep
This is telling me that Tasmanian Pinot can definitely be considered super seriously at a world level. They have set a style and the bar is quite high. — 4 months ago

Sonia Ross

9.5

February 2025 dinner, paired with pan-seared salmon. 2020 vintage. — 8 months ago

Joe L.

9.2

Crushable, NV sparkling rose from Tasmania. Pinot noir-forward notes with clean finish and fresh red fruit bouquet. Drank to toast last day of job. — a month ago

Big Wave Dave

9.3

Very good. Started bright and red and evolved in the glass to be darker, more savoury and structured. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

My 2nd last 2018 Pooley Pinot Noir. Pale Ruby in colour, tawny shades almost transparent. The colour appears to have become paler with age - a characteristic I haven’t seen before. On the palate evidence of whole bunch in the ferment - herbal, stalky amid the red fruits. The pale colour belies the palate intensity. Coal River is becoming part of Tasmanian Pinot Royalty. — 4 months ago

Mark S.

8.9

Greenish yellow. Oak, vanilla and honey. Minerals. Slight citrus, melon. Acidic ++. Grapefruit, fresh. Initial aroma is like CA, but later on, feel elegancy. It would be better after acidity becomes calm. Dalrymple CAVE BLOCK CHARDONNAY GI Tasmania 19 @5976, Uki, 250405-250501 — 7 months ago