2023 Strelley Farm Estate Pinot Noir $30

Strelley Farm is one of many vineyard developments being undertaken in southern Tasmania by the Fogarty Wine Group. The 170ha site is located on Brinktop Road, Richmond, in the heart of the Coal River Valley. Planting began in 2021 with around 40ha of vines, and there have been significant additions made in recent years. (No current authoritative information forthcoming from the WA-based company.)

This is the second release of Pinot Noir under a label that includes the word 'Estate.' However, it's believed the wine is a blend of fruit sourced from a range of wine-growing areas within Tasmania, with Coal River Valley and East Coast vineyards accounting for around 60 percent of the blend. 

All that is academic, in any case. The long and short of this review is that this is a very stylish light-medium-bodied Pinot Noir that offers superb value around the $30 mark. It can be snapped up at some large retail outlets for significantly less than that if you happen to strike it lucky.

Vintage 2023 was in fact quite a tricky one for Pinot Noir growers in Tasmania. A relatively short period of dry sunny weather over summer was bookended by large dumps of rain in spring and autumn. Sites contributing to this release don't appear to have been adversely affected, however. It looks rich and vibrant in the glass, the colour being a convincing pale crimson/red cherry skin hue.

The aromatics are quite lifted and complex, with red cherry/red berry/cranberry fruit sweetness being accompanied by engaging kitchen spice notes and fleeting reminders of bushwalking experiences in Tasmania's sassafras forest. 

The palate is juicy, lively and indeed moreish. The wine really works well with food, especially game/venison meats or Asian-influenced duck/soy/mushroom dishes. Its best drinking window has already opened but you can be assured that there will still be plenty to enjoy here in another 5-7 years. 

Source: Retail purchase

https://strelleyfarm.wine