Jason Sliwa

9.1

Bright fruit and racy acidity. Others on Delectable apparently love it, but I think it’s just good. — 13 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

The colour is becoming more tawny since my last tasting in 2023. Lovely aromatics of red fruits and Sous Bois. Manages to combine the characteristics of both Tasmania’s Coal River Valley Pinot Noir and Steve Flamsteed’s excellent winemaking (ex Giant Steps Yarra Valley). I have previous Delectable notes on this wine. Sweet red cherry. Fleshy and supple. This wine scooped the pool at the 2019 Royal Queensland Wine Awards winning Best Pinot Noir of Show; Best Red Table Wine; Best Single Vineyard Red and Grand Champion Wine of Show. Since the acquisition of Giant Steps by the Jackson Family I’m not sure that the Nocton Vineyard is still made? Postscript: Research on line indicates that no vintage of Nocton was made after this one in 2018. — 3 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

My 2nd last 2018 Pooley Pinot Noir. Pale Ruby in colour, tawny shades almost transparent. The colour appears to have become paler with age - a characteristic I haven’t seen before. On the palate evidence of whole bunch in the ferment - herbal, stalky amid the red fruits. The pale colour belies the palate intensity. Coal River is becoming part of Tasmanian Pinot Royalty. — 7 months ago

Aravind A

9.3

A wee babe, but our favorite wine from the Giant Steps tasting. Had a lot of eye-opening Tasmanian PN on this last trip, but this is gorgeous. Reminds me a bit of Russian River Valley PN with the fruit density, but without any concomitant heat; maybe lighter styled Santa Ynez body, but seemingly added whole cluster for complexity. Stretching for comparisons, but evidently its own thing. Lovely. — 2 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Tolpuddle Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023
Coal River Valley, Tasmania, Australia 🇦🇺

Overview
A thrilling first encounter with Tasmanian Pinot Noir, vivid, ultra-fresh, and beautifully lifted. This cool-climate expression leans into precision and energy rather than weight, delivering juicy purity without drifting into jamminess. Lightly chilled, it absolutely sang in the glass, showing how Tasmania is quietly carving out a serious identity for elegant, high-definition Pinot Noir.

Aromas & Flavors
Bright dark cherry, cola spice, and fresh red-black berry fruit lead the aromatics, layered with subtle floral lift and a hint of forest freshness. On the palate, juicy cherry, cranberry skin, and gentle baking spice glide effortlessly, keeping everything lively, transparent, and beautifully balanced without heaviness.

Mouthfeel
Light to medium-bodied with vibrant acidity and silky, flowing texture. Energetic, refreshing, and wonderfully agile, the wine literally dances across the palate, especially when served slightly chilled.

Food Pairings
Roast chicken or duck with herbs. Grilled salmon or tuna. Mushroom risotto or lentil dishes. Charcuterie boards with soft cheeses. Asian-inspired dishes with light soy or ginger notes.

Verdict
A joyful, eye-opening Pinot Noir that delivers freshness, precision, and pure drinkability. Not jammy, not heavy, just beautifully expressive cool-climate Pinot with real personality. A reminder that Tasmania deserves serious attention on the global Pinot stage.

Did You Know?
Coal River Valley is one of Tasmania’s coolest and driest wine regions, benefiting from long daylight hours, cool nights, and maritime influence, ideal conditions for preserving acidity, aromatics, and finesse in Pinot Noir. Commercial vineyard plantings here only began in the late 1980s, making it a young but rapidly rising region.

🍷 Personal Pick
This was pure discovery joy for me, lightly chilled, insanely fresh, and dangerously easy to love. Exactly the kind of wine that makes you rethink what Pinot can be outside the usual Burgundy and Oregon lanes. — 8 days ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.4

Consistently exceptional
You truly need a bottle of this wine at reach always.
Easy drinking, but also deep
This is telling me that Tasmanian Pinot can definitely be considered super seriously at a world level. They have set a style and the bar is quite high. — 7 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Aromas of red and black fruits, violets and mulchy Sous Bois. Coal River Valley - close to the Vosne Romanee of Tasmania IMO. Sweet, savoury and intense - more raspberry and black cherry than beetroot. Easy to like - see previous note about a year ago. Had another bottle 20 weeks later on 11th November 2023 with similar tasting notes. Had my last bottle in late December 2024 with consistent notes. An excellent Tasmanian Pinot Noir. — 3 years ago

Tom Garland

9.5

Mondavi wine dinner with:
Carlo Mondavi of RAEN
Tim Mondavi of Continuum
Chiara Mondavi of Sentium

WINES
2022 Sentium sav blanc
2018 RAEN Charles Ranch chard
2023 RAEN lady Marjorie chard
2015 RAEN homefield pinot
2023 RAEN seafield pinot
2014 RAEN Bodega pinot
2023 RAEN Bodega pinot
1991 Robert Mondavi reserve cab..YUM!!!
1980 Opus One  (2nd vintage!!!!!!)
2013 Continuum cab
2022 Continuum cab
1968 Madeira, Portugal Boal

FOOD
Sea scallop
Lobster thermidor with wild fennel
Liberty duck
Fresh shelling beans..baked beans in a can for the Mondavi reserve and Opus. Fun
Coal roasted A5 wagyu beef
Medjool date — 3 months ago

with Brenda

Bob McDonald

9.5

Top flight Tasmanian Chardonnay from Tolpuddle in the Coal River made and owned by Shaw and Smith. A logistical challenge shipping the grapes from Tasmania to the Adelaide Hills in refrigerated containers to Shaw and Smith HQ where the grapes are crushed and vinified. Initially the wine is lean when tasting - perhaps a little young. Lemon and grapefruit fruit notes and barrel ferment characters with a 10 year life ahead. My first of 3. The next in 3 to 5 years by which time I expect more stone fruit textures to be apparent. 98 points from Huon Hooke. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

See previous note for this 2017 vintage 143 weeks ago. An impressive Coal River Pinot from Tasmania. Still showing those aromatic red fruits on this very pretty nose. Just the right amount of whole bunch used in the ferment. Pooley Pinot should be an annual purchase. Drank our last bottle 31 weeks later on 12th November 2025 with consistent notes - delicious earthy red fruits, dried herbs. — 10 months ago