2024 Eastford Creek Gewürztraminer $42

07/15/2025

Rob and Sue Nichols have made an impressive foray into the challenging world of cool climate viticulture on Tasmania's North West. Their 12ha close-planted vineyard at Sassafras has been given the best of care since day one and the rewards to date have been quite remarkable, including gold medals for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

The couple have done more than plant the usual suspects on their property. Significant investments in Gewürztraminer and Gamay are great news for those seeking to look beyond the typical Tasmanian sparkling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir prism. Gewürztraminer is an especially welcome addition, given the variety's distinctive yet food-friendly characteristics.

This release comes from the excellent 20024 vintage. Winemaker Andrew Gaman is a dab hand when it comes to the sensitive use of skin contact with his white varieties, and this offering reflects that, from its subtle green gold sheen in the glass to the full-on aromas and satisfying palate weight and texture. There's no mistaking the variety. It's very fragrant - at first, heritage rose blossom and musk/lychee, then boiled lollies and ripe melon. Those same characters run the full length of the palate, and are nicely trimmed by well-balanced natural acidity and a dry, phenolic grip. Bulls-eye.

Gewürztraminer is a minx of a variety to manage in the vineyard, so let's hope Eastford Creek's young, occasionally wayward child can be coaxed into producing further satisfying results in vintages to come. I'm a big fan, so watch this space.

Source: Cellar door purchase (exclusively vineyard-only)