The 2023 Dalrymple Vineyards Single Site Coal River Valley Pinot Noir is a refined and expressive Tasmanian Pinot Noir that highlights the distinctive character of the Coal River Valley. The region’s plentiful sunshine, low rainfall and drying winds allow Pinot Noir to develop generous fruit concentration while retaining Tasmania’s hallmark freshness and natural acidity. This single-site release is made to emphasise the vineyard’s darker, more structured personality, offering greater depth and richness than many lighter, red-fruited Tasmanian Pinots.
The fruit was hand-picked, with 5% whole-bunch fermentation adding subtle aromatic lift and savoury complexity. Following natural fermentation, the wine spent 10 months in French oak barriques, including 30% new oak. The oak is well integrated, providing gentle spice and structure without overwhelming the purity of the fruit. At 13% alcohol, the wine remains elegant and balanced despite its impressive concentration.
The bouquet is beautifully layered, opening with aromas of dark cherry, ripe plum and cranberry, accompanied by violet, Asian spice and subtle liquorice. As the wine opens, more savoury notes of forest loam, leaf litter, cola and graphite emerge, together with delicate rose-petal perfume and a touch of orange zest. The aromatic profile combines dark-fruited generosity with earthy complexity and cool-climate freshness.
On the palate, it is medium-bodied, silky and finely structured, with flavours of dark cherry, wild strawberry, raspberry and cranberry supported by subtle spice, forest-floor notes and a gentle mineral edge. Fine, chalky tannins provide shape and persistence, while bright natural acidity gives the wine energy and precision. The Coal River Valley’s warmer, drier conditions contribute a slightly broader and more generous texture than many northern Tasmanian Pinot Noirs, but the wine remains poised and elegant rather than heavy. The finish is long, fresh and gently savoury, lingering with red and dark berry fruit, dried flowers, spice and fine oak.
