Product Information:
The 2022/2023 season’s mild and warm conditions set the stage for a classic iteration of Cooinda Vale Pinot Noir, a wine known for its elegance, poise, and precision. Alluring aromas of cherry ripe and caraway spice lead into a fleshy palate of raspberry jube and fennel. The finish lingers with notes of orange citrus, grapefruit pith, and a subtle, refreshing tang.
The fruit for this Pinot Noir was primarily handpicked, with the exception of Block 10. Most ferments involved 100% destemmed fruit, but a standout 100% whole-bunch fermentation was carried out on the Abel clone, 15% of which was used in the final blend. The wine underwent fermentation for 15 to 25 days with gentle extraction through a modest pumping regime. After fermentation, the wine was matured for 11 months in French oak barriques (30% new), using Cavin and St Martin barrels. The wine was filtered for clarity but left unfined.
Maker:
Pooley Wines, a family-owned vineyard, was established in 1985 by Denis and Margaret Pooley on the banks of the Coal River in southern Tasmania. What began as a retirement plan quickly grew into a renowned premium cool-climate vineyard, thanks to the dedication of three generations of the Pooley family. In 2003, John Pooley and his wife Libby expanded the family’s holdings with the establishment of a second vineyard, Butcher’s Hill, with its first vintage released in 2007.
After the passing of Margaret Pooley in 2010, the family business evolved further when Margaret’s granddaughter, Anna Pooley, returned to take on the winemaking role in 2013. Since then, Pooley Wines has been made entirely by family hands. Pooley Wines is now recognized as one of Australia’s leading cool-climate producers. In 2023, the Halliday Wine Companion honoured Pooley Wines as Winery of the Year, reflecting the family’s commitment to producing wines that express their unique environment and push the boundaries of quality in Tasmania’s Coal River Valley.
The Vineyard:
The 2023 growing season began with budburst in September and continued with a challenging flowering period in November, marked by wind and rain. Between October and December, both of Pooley’s vineyard sites experienced 230mm of rainfall, leading to poor fruit set and reduced yields. However, the weather shifted by late December, moving from La Niña to a drier, warmer El Niño pattern. The mild summer that followed was ideal for the steady and slow development of flavour, acidity, sugar, and tannins, resulting in excellent wine quality.
Cooinda Vale Vineyard, established in 1985 by Pooley’s founders, sits between 80 and 100 metres above sea level, nestled in the hills north of Campania. This location is more continental, with greater temperature extremes and more frequent frosts, snow, and heatwaves. The vineyard’s grey-brown sandy loam over clay subsoil adds moderate vine stress, limiting deep root growth and water access. In return, the site produces delicate, fine wines with incredible nuance.
Nose - Cherry Ripe, Jubey Raspberry, Spicy Oak
It has perfume, ripe strawberry and cherry, shows a little creamy spicy oak
Palate - Earthy, Fleshy Red Fruits, White Pepper
It’s plush, yet stony and fine, concentration of fruit is outstanding, and the mouth-feel is wonderful.
Finish - Mineral, Orange Peel, Dark Cherry
It’s super long. It has some gently earthy character, and that fine ‘mineral’ acidity closing it out
This is just superb. It has perfume, ripe strawberry and cherry, shows a little creamy spicy oak at this early stage, though it’s good oak and it sits well within the wine. It’s plush, yet stony and fine, concentration of fruit is outstanding, and the mouth-feel is wonderful. It’s super long. It has some gently earthy character, and that fine ‘mineral’ acidity closing it out is so nice. This is an absolute banger. - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, 96 Points.
"Quite dark, vibrant and deep in the glass. Lifted and heady aromas of blueberry, dried herbs, sap, spice, dark cherry, clovey oak and white pepper. The palate is full-flavoured and fleshy, with lashings of blue and red fruits, along with spice, bramble and a woodsy lift. A bigger framed pinot noir that is built for the long haul, but also drinks very nicely now." - Aaron Brasher, The Real Review, 95 Points.
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - Australia
Region - Coal River Valley, Tasmania
Vintage - 2023
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 12.5%
