The Auswine Forum

I'm much remiss at posting my news... had a fabulous trip to SA last week, including a catch-up with the Trotter-in-chief, some spectacular tastings and some fine acquisitions including 12 bottles of 02 Chook Block.

However, now back in Syd and business pressures have hit like a ton of bricks so no time to write a proper update.

So to my question - work takes me to Tas next week, and I have a couple of free days and a car.

Has anyone toured the Tassie vineyards? If so, which vineyards are worth a visit? (Can do Hobart and/or Launceston).

In the South:

Moorilla, Meadowbank and Home Hill are the standouts. I don't know about Lubiana. Wellington/Hood wines is right next door to Meadowbank so kill 2 birds with one stone. Stoney/Domaine A is just up the road but I've never been there. I'm not sure what the cellar door is like or if it is always open.

Excellent restaurants at each of the first 3 mentioned places and spectacular outlooks.

I would seriously consider staying in one of the chalets at Moorilla while in Hobart. Lovely outlook right onthe river less than 15 mins from the city.

Plenty of good (not great) restaurants in Hobart for wining/dining but I wouldn't strongly recommend any one of them. Maybe Lebrina?

Peppermint Bay which is (sort of) on the way to Home Hill is an enjoyable place to eat.

In the North: just drive up to Pipers River and come back down the Tamar River to Launceston. You can do it in one day easily. Maybe 2 if you want to do lots of tastings.

On the East Coast - Freycinet but it's a reasonably significant detour for one winery. The majority are around Hobart and Launceston.

Thanks very much for the input.

Lubiana was also one I will make an effort for, as their bubblies are decent, and they're not very far north of Hobart.

Domaine A wines are excellent but they charge $5. Lubiana is worth a visit but check opening days. Haven't been to Moorilla for some years. Some other makers in Coal River are recommended - search here for some posts using "Hobart".

Piper's River / Tamar is a good 45 mins out of Lonnie. I posted epic notes here 15 months ago.

An alternative to going north are a few decent wineries south of Hobart in the Huon Valley - Panorama and Grandview come to mind.

But do search here. There some useful stuff in the archives, and not out of date.

cheers,
Graeme

Agree with Graeme, south of Hobart around Huonville go to Panorama and Home Hill ( excellent restaurant as well). Both open everyday and nice wines.

Around Hobart/Coal Valley many are only open on the week-end - was down there on Thursday and neither Hood wines or Craigow or Winstead was open during the week - only friday and Saturday.

Try Stefano Lubiana just outside Hobart at Granton excellent, as well as Morilla. In the Coal Valley go to Meadowbank for decent coffee, though most wines are pretty average and expensive for what they are. Pop up to Richmond - go to Domaine A as well as the shop in the middle of Richmond which has about 15 different wines from the Coal Valley for about $5.

If up the Tamar north of Launceston - on the top of the list I would put Dalrymple - excellent 2002 and 2003 pinots - both won trophies for the best pinot of their vintage and the tasmanian wine show which is chaired by Halliday and Huon Hooke. Their unoaked chardonnay is a pretty good try at a premier cru chablis - has more richness in the middle palate than most unwooded chards but also with biting minerally acid.

While near there in the Pipers brook region pop into the champagne Jantz for a couple of bubblies - the 2002 Rose is superb and only available at the cellar.

I also think you should go to Tamar Ridge, and Holm Oak which is justabout nextdoor - both have wines off fruit that is at least 10 yearsold. A lot of the newer vineyard wines are pretty thin or else over-oaked because all the oak they seem to have atthis stage is predominantly new.

Pop into Strathlynn retaurant for lunch overlooking the Tamar-lovely aspect and try some of the Pipers brook vineyard whites - forgetabout their reds , especially pinot - only made one decent one in 25 years!!

Hope this is a start.


Cheers

Paul

manning wrote:
So to my question - work takes me to Tas next week, and I have a couple of free days and a car.

Has anyone toured the Tassie vineyards? If so, which vineyards are worth a visit? (Can do Hobart and/or Launceston).

Manning

Did you ever go to Tassie? If so any TNs?

Cheers

Paul

Paul - indeed I did, but then Xmas etc meant that I was remiss in my updating.

Tasted some lovely stuff, mainly pinots

Brief notes:
Most curious award: Derwent Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Will never hold a candle to a Coona CS, but interesting to taste a CS from such a cool climate. Tannins were grippy but was otherwise quite drinkable.

Moorilla Riesling 2004/2003 SWMBO made me taste these, and it was interesting to see what a dramatic difference there was between them. One was heavy, quite yellow and had plum and pineapple notes, whereas the other was much lighter, with citrus and lychee. Can't remember which was which though.

Highlights
Stefano Lubbiana Pinot Noir 2004. The CD was closed (never open on Fridays for some reason) so I bought this at a retailer. Was the best Tassie pinot by a fair margin. Also tasted his NV sparkling which was very decent. Apparently he makes some good c-thrus.

Barriewood Pinot Noir 2004 A little vineyard in north-west Tassie, near Sheffield (ie - not in the Derwent Valley or Tamar Valley, the two established regions of the state). Had low expectations but was extremely surprised at its depth and complexity.

Jansz Tasmanian Vintage Cuvee 97 A stunning CD, clearly geared towards the tourist but not offensively so. A very clever marketing tag ("Methode Tasmanoise") backed up by top-notch wines. The 97 was the pick of the bunch for me - lots of pear and marzipan, with a creamy texture and a crisp finish.

Tasted some ordinary stuff too, but you can do that in the McLaren Vale.

On the whole Tassie wines are quite solid, ranging from decent to very good, but they are (ahem) not aggressively priced. Saw some enormous new plantings (one was 200 Ha by itself - the vines looked a few years off bearing fruit), so money is going into the area.