2016 Vintage Brut

Grape/s:  Chardonnay 57% Pinot Noir 43%

GI: Tasmania

Vineyards(s): Multi-regional blend Piper's River and Coal River Valley (Tolpuddle).

Vintage notes: With above average temperatures through-out the growing season and a dry Spring and Summer, conditions in 2016 were ideal for flowering and fruit set. Despite widespread rain in January and again in Autumn, generating incidences of bunch rots and powdery mildew, vintage 2016 produced both above average yields (for Tasmania) and clean, high-quality fruit at low to moderate Baumé with high natural acidity, and excellent varietal characteristics.

Use of reserve wines: The initial blend contained 3.5 % of reserve wine from 2010.  At disgorging, the liqueur d’expedition included a very small proportion (1%) of Chardonnay (aged in a seven-year-old puncheon) from the 2025 vintage.

Over 9 years on lees, disgorged December 2025, 1.5 g/L dosage, 

Closure: DIAM cork

Tasting note: The higher proportion of Pinot Noir together with a warm grower season is evidenced by the generosity of the nose and palate.  Expect the fruit to come forward as it matures or warms in the glass. Lemon-pale gold hue, vibrant fine bead. Ripe white peach, nectarine, honey toast, almond meal, nougat, lemon curd and tropical notes of lemongrass overlay savoury aromas of marmite, oystershell and sea spray.  On the palate rich ripe white peach, honey, brioche with complex savoury, autolytic flavours make for a full mid-palate resolving to a long savoury, dry finish. A The Pinot Noir components show through as red berry fruits - especially raspberry confit and strawberry parfait.  The savoury underpinnings and central drive of acid provide a generous but elegant length and depth to a poised, sophisticated, complex and utterly moreish wine. After it's long sojourn on yeast lees this wine required the lowest dosage, I have ever needed to achieve a precise balance at only 1.5g/L and a mere 1% of 2025 reserve wine

ABV: 12.1%

Production size: 1200 bottles.