Bream Creek Pinot Noir 2014

While the modern Tasmanian wine industry is young in terms of years established, Bream Creek Vineyard an be considered as one of the industry’s pioneering wineries. Our vineyard at Bream Creek was planted in the early 1970s, making it amongst the earliest commercial vineyards planted in Tasmania. The Bream Creek Vineyard wine label was established by leading Tasmanian vigneron Fred Peacock back in 1990, at a time when there were less than 10 commercial wineries in the entire state. For over 30 years Bream Creek wines have been consistent award winners, helping to showcase the very best of Tasmanian wines to Australia (and the rest of the world).

The vineyard is planted on a north-east ridge overlooking Marion Bay and the Tasman Sea on Tasmania’s east coast. This combination of a gently sloping site, coastal location and maritime influence provides optimal ripening conditions for premium quality grapes. The long, mild seasons feature cool frost free springs, long sunny summer days with gentle sea breezes to moderate the summer heat and an extended autumn ripening period to enhance flavour development. The surrounding topography and forest offer a natural windbreak from the strong, cold winds.

Soils are deep and range from brown to black clay loams with a little small stone on the higher ground. Particular attention has been made to match varieties to the different range of soil types within the vineyard.

All vines are vertical-shoot positioned, with most of the management, including pruning and picking, done by hand. With both small berries and quite small bunches, the very modest yields enhance the typical varietal characters – perfect for truly cool climate winemaking.

Hand-picked, clones D2V5, D2V6 and D5V12, 80% whole berry/destemmed, 20% whole bunches, open-fermented, 22 days on skins, matured in French oak (18% new) for 10 months. Deeply coloured; the bouquet is complex, with multi-spices and an attractive, warm undergrowth, the palate adding depth and texture. Black cherry and plum fruit is lengthened by fine, persistent tannins. Well deserved gold medal Tasmanian Wine Show '17. Drink by 2029.
96 points James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion