Product Information:
A cooler average temperatures allowed slow ripened Chardonnay. Aromatically, it's a revelry of fresh grapefruit and citrus zest, enhanced by taught flinty aromas, cashew nut and subtle oak spice. The palate is taught and mealy, supported by juicy ripe nectarine and grapefruit, weaving complexity and acidity, with captivating drive and length.
Constant spring winds during budburst caused low vine yields. The region experienced cooler than average temperatures over the growing season causing a longer ripening period with delayed harvest dates. The driest vintage to date producing extremely high-quality fruit. winemaking 36% Coal Valley, 34% East Coast and 30% Tasman Peninsula Chardonnay was hand-picked and chilled overnight before being whole bunch pressed into seasoned French oak (300L) and left to undergo wild fermentation with the inclusion of some solids. 9 months in oak prior to blending and bottling.
“Tasmania's most exciting new label" - James Halliday Wine Companion.
Maker:
In the late 1800s, Tasmania's vineyards faced a stark fate as many were uprooted, deemed too cold for wine grape production, while workers flocked to the Victorian gold rush. It wasn’t until the mid-1950s that Claudio Alcorso breathed new life into the Tasmanian wine industry, planting 90 Riesling vines sourced from David Wynn in South Australia. By 1976, Alcorso, along with the Pirie brothers, established the first Pinot Noir vineyard in the region.
In 1986, Bernard McKay, then owner of Lowestoft, was invited to plant vines for Alcorso’s Moorilla Winery, located on the site that is now Mona. The 3-hectare plot was dedicated entirely to Pinot Noir, using cuttings from Moorilla. Following the sale of Moorilla, viticulturist Fred Peacock began sourcing some of Lowestoft's grapes for his Bream Creek Reserve Pinot Noir, with the remainder sold to Treasury Wines and others. Fast forward to 2017, when Peter Fogarty, founder and Executive Chairman of Fogarty Wine Group, turned his passion for world-class Pinot Noir towards Tasmania’s cool climate. It was during this period that Fogarty first recognized the historic Lowestoft property, ultimately acquiring it in 2019, alongside two other esteemed vineyards - Strelley Farm and Gilling Brook.
The Vineyard:
The Lowestoft homestead stands as one of Tasmania’s oldest treasures, constructed between 1839 and 1850. This stunning property graces the banks of the picturesque Derwent River, offering breathtaking views of the renowned Mona museum and art gallery, as well as Moorilla Winery. The Lowestoft vineyard itself is a compact and densely planted 3-hectare site (8300 vines per ha), featuring some of the oldest Pinot Noir plantings in Tasmania. Established in 1986, its grapes are among the most sought after in the region. Nestled just 15 minutes northwest of Hobart in the Derwent Valley subregion, the vineyard benefits from low rainfall of 400–500mm and cool temperatures that promote a long, even ripening period for its exceptional fruit. Given the vineyard's small size, the team is strategically sourcing the finest fruit parcels from select growers across various subregions, including Huon Valley, Derwent Valley, Coal River Valley, and Tamar Valley.
With a focus on producing luxury, Burgundy-style wines, Lowestoft represents the pinnacle of Tasmanian winemaking. Under the expertise of Chief Winemaker Liam McElhinney, the Lowestoft wines have been awarded 16 Trophies and 42 Gold Medals in the four years since the wines were first released. These awards include the prestigious Jimmy Watson Trophy, all of the ‘Best Pinot Noir’ Trophies at four major Australian wine shows, as well as Lowestoft being crowned the country’s best Pinot Noir producer in the Halliday Wine Companion 2023.
Nose - Mealy Lemon, Grape fruit, White Flowers & Herbs
Notes of preserved citrus, yellow peach, curry leaf and juniper and a hint of sage.
Palate - White Peach, Nougat, Oyster Shell
Flint, crushed river stone, nougat, oyster shell and sexy French oak. There is a swirl of struck-match complexity in the mix.
Finish - Expansive, Yellow-Fruit, Long Finish
Expansive palate with plenty of clarity, tension and complexity. A long, dreamy finish, too.
Tamar Valley/Coal River Valley/Tasman Peninsula-sourced Chardonnay; matured in large format French oak for 10 months. An immediate wash of mealy lemon, grapefruit, white peach and nectarine fruit notes along with hints of fine spice, white flowers, flint, crushed river stone, nougat, oyster shell and sexy French oak. There is a swirl of struck-match complexity in the mix, and the wine presents an expansive palate with plenty of clarity, tension and complexity. A long, dreamy finish, too. - Halliday Wine Companion, 95 Points.
Tasted beside the 2020, this 2021 Estate Chardonnay is finer and tighter; the acidity has a rapier-like cut and thrust and engages in a parry with the fruit on the mid-palate. It has notes of preserved citrus, yellow peach, curry leaf and juniper—a hint of sage, even? There are elements in here that teeter on the brink of green, but it provides balance, depth and edge to what is otherwise a very concentrated (almost yellow-fruited) wine. - Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, 95 Points.
The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Tasmania
Vintage - 2021
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13%
