I’m happy to say that I expect to have quite a few more Tasmanian wine reviews!  Our mixed dozen from the Tamar Valley has arrived, and we are happily, slowly, working our way through them. One of the nicest things about our trundle through the Tamar Valley is that you can pick up a bottle or two at each winery, as you go, and then when you buy enough to make a dozen, whichever winery you’re at will box them up and ship them for you.  I really, really appreciate that.

So! Tamar Ridge was the very first Tasmanian winery we visited on our Big Day of Wine Tasting.  We were staying at the Rosevears vineyard, just outside Launceston, and did a tasting there when we checked in, so technically I guess you could say they were first – but the Rosevears estate is part of Tamar Ridge’s stables, responsible for the Rosevears Estate and Pirie ranges (both very fine ranges, I must add), so I will stick with my original statement. The Tamar Ridge winery is set among the vines of the Kayena Vineyard,

The 2007 Kayena Vineyard Pinot Noir pretty much set the standard against which I evaluated other pinot noirs throughout our stay in Tasmania.  It displayed the strawberry/boysenberry tones that characterise pinot noir, but without letting the palate stray anywhere near sweet, juicy or overpowering: rather, it kept the berry tones in perfect balance with oak and spice. This wine is very restrained, without sacrificing fullness or depth.  There are some fine tannins, but just enough to make them worth commenting on, and the final note is a lingering wood/berry one. I loved this wine pretty hard, and I regret that we could only bring one bottle of it back with us.  Its sophistication and balance is impressive and, frankly, delicious.

On a final note: Tamar Ridge do a damn fine tasting.  You don’t get rushed and you get an excellent commentary on each one, especially in light of the fact that, as a devotee of the holy grape of Shiraz, I needed a little guidance on merlot and gerwurtztraminer.  We were lead through the whole range, both the Kayena Vineyard and Devil’s Corner range, from the first crisp whites through to the merlot blends at the end, and finally ended with a sample of the botryitis.  Now, I don’t mind a botrytis, although it’s never been a passion of mine, but seriously: the Tamar Ridge botrytis is so good, so fine, so light and so splendid that I think I may never be able to enjoy another winery’s.  It’s going to have to be Tamar Ridge or nothing. I guess I can live with that.