Tolpuddle Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir bottle image

Wine Description

Tolpuddle Vineyard Pinot  Noir reflects the cool maritime climate of Tasmania's Coal River Valley, and the site itself is gently sloping, north-east facing, with light silica over sandstone.  The result is a beautifully aromatic and textured Pinot Noir with intensity, power, purity and complexity.

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Acclaim
“Glistening ruby-red. Expansive red fruit preserve and vanilla aromas show fine definition, complemented by succulent floral, exotic spice and smoky mineral notes that build with air. Sappy, appealingly sweet and energetic in style, offering Chambord, cherry cola, candied rose and five-spice powder flavors braced by a spine of juicy acidity. The floral note repeats emphatically on the impressively persistent finish, which features polished tannins and reverberating floral and spice notes. One-third new French oak.”
— Vinous, Sep 2022
“Planted in 1988, the Tolpuddle Vineyard is situated in Tasmania's Coal River Valley, and is composed of 20ha of north east facing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines. The vineyard was purchased by Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW in 2011, having identified the potential to produce exceptional cool-climate single vineyard wines. Hand picked grapes are fermented as a combination of whole bunches and whole berries in open fermenters, with gentle plunging. The wine spends nine months in around 30% new French oak.”
— Decanter, Dec 2020
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Tolpuddle Vineyard
Vineyard size
50 acres
Soil composition
Light Silica over Sandstone
Training method
Guyot VSP
Elevation:
132 - 198 feet
Vines/acre:
1,110 - 1,515
Yield/acre:
2.4 tons
Exposure:
Northeastern
Year vineyard planted:
1988
Harvest time:
March - April
First vintage of this wine:
2012
Bottles produced of this wine:
14,000
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Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
15 - 30
Varietal composition:
100% Pinot Noir
Fermentation container:
Open-Top Stainless Steel Tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
10 days
Fermentation temperature:
up to 90 °F
Maceration technique:
Cold Soak Maceration and Punchdown
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Size of aging container:
228L - 500L
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
11 months
Age of Aging Container:
New to 3 years
Length of bottle aging:
8 months
Total SO2
27
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.6
Acidity:
5.8 g/L
Alcohol:
13.5 %
Total SO2
27
Residual sugar:
0.3 g/L
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Wine Production

The grapes were all hand-picked and fermented as a combination of whole berries and whole bunches, in open fermenters, with gentle plunging.

The wine was aged in French oak for nine months, of which about one third was new.

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About the Vineyard

Tolpuddle Vineyard is an outstanding site within the Coal River Valley region. Planted in 1988 solely to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the vineyard takes its name from the Tolpuddle Martyrs, whose “reward” for starting England’s first agrarian union was to be transportedto Tasmania as convicts.

The vineyard is on a gentle slope, north-east facing. The soil is light silica sands over sandstone, and of moderate vigour, ensuring well-balanced vines.