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

Frank Kuo

9.4

Color of tea. Nose of smoke, peat, sweet dates, spicy and strong alcohol, and more coal like peat. The nose is powerful. Taste is another hit of smoky peat. First sip is dry, however the sweetness surfaces later. Hidden note of marginal sweet apple. Aftertaste shows some baked apple and more smoky peat note. Clean, powerful, straightforward, and tasty. — 4 years ago

John Hagood

9.3

From Laura’s Ets Martin order — had 2015 on 10/30/2021. Very dark ruby. Extremely full buoyant bouquet. Cedar, coal, leather, licorice; secondary cherry and oak. Tannin only mid-palate and light. Jammy finish. Laura’s favorite. — 5 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.7

Allemand nightcap! From the terrific wine list at CUT Vegas. Allemand is truly one of my absolute favorite producers and this 07 Reynard from the master was superb. It’s deep, powerful and has a searing intensity. Ethereal and layered with dark fruit, coal smoke, black olive and violets.

There is superb concentration along with a firm tannic structure that is beginning to soften as it approaches its drinking apogee. It’s exceptionally well balanced with an incredibly long, palate saturating and harmonious finish with vivid energy and an elegant purity. WowWw. ☄️ — 5 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.3

Seriously dark with bursting aromatics of violets, black raspberry, coal and cocoa. Just insanely decadent and perfectly firm. I want to drink one of these each year over the next 15 years. It is so good now but I can only imagine what it will be in the future.
Am I the only one who thinks the Pisoni crew is making even better Syrah than Pinot? Call it croZes hermitage blind with new world richness — 6 years ago

Philippe Dupuis

9.0

Fruity and mineral (wet coal), dry mouthfeel, vertical like a pinot noir, super long aftertaste. The wine is still young, super fresh, dense and partly intellectual. Impressive work. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Pale to mid crimson. Aromas of strawberry and earthy minerality - bitumen and coal nuances. Great palate intensity and length with notes of beetroot and earthy root vegetables. Really enjoying other Mornington Peninsula Pinots since visiting there last year. Just as good as the Yarra Valley for Pinot Noir Chardonnay and Syrah I think. — 8 years 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

Bob McDonald

9.2

When in Rome do as the Romans. Currently on Bruny Island south of Hobart and enjoying the local bounty like Oysters and Fish and this lovely Pinot Noir from Pooley who are in the Coal River district. Lovely aromatics of dried red and black cherry with a whole bunch influence. A light to medium weight palate. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

A buttery style but not overdone. From the over performing Coal River in Tasmania. Currently fruit flavours are subdued but it is very young and will develop. Went well with 6 “delectable “ Cape Bruny oysters grown nearby for an average of 18 months in some of the cleanest waters on the planet. The glass of the Frogmore Chardonnay was too young and was dominated by the fabulous oysters. — 4 years ago

Matté

Manager The Wine Cellars

9.2

N - Refined, Smokey blackcurrant & black cherry fruit, graphite, coal, decaying violets, warm, stoney soil, blood and sweet meats. Beautiful.
P - Wonderfully refined, buffered cocoa powder tannins, refreshing black fruit. Fucking delicious. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Mid Ruby in colour. Initial aromas of red and black fruits particularly raspberry and also whole bunch notes. Rich and sweet on the palate with plums and cherries finishing with smooth tannins. Fruit for this Pinot was sourced from the Coal Valley, East Coast and Channel sub-regions of Tasmania - the latter adding that richness like you see in Home Hill Estate. — 6 years ago

Kate Bleasel

9.5

Drank 2009 - still so fresh, lime in colour and zesty in the mouth, but with an undertone of oily aged delight. Fantastic. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Toffee caramel notes showing the oak influence along with bright red cherries and other red fruits. On the palate a nice savoury earthiness - very Tassie. From the Coal River and only 5 klms from the high profile Tolpuddle Vineyard. Tasted again 9 weeks later on 19th February with consistent notes. Aromatic Bright and Fresh. A lot of these Tasmanian producers are boutique small operations who do not distribute overseas and can sell the lot in Australia. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Very identifiable as Tasmanian Pinot - this one from the Coal River and the high performing Pooley Wines. Last tasting note here was way back 153 weeks ago. Red fruited - drinking this early in its drinking window. Light to medium weight - lovely Tassie purity. Fine tannins. — 3 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

Light ruby dress. Red fruits, cranberry, cherry. Alcohol 12 abv. Slightly smoked, mineral, undergrowth, coal. Sweet spices, cloves, black cardamom, cola. A PN that transcribes with purity and simplicity an altitude terroir with chalky basements expressing itself here in the form of a lively and sharp acidity with many facets, recalling in some aspects the Pinots-Noirs of Alsace. Simple, sincere, nuanced profile type "old world" very good quality/price ratio. To drink a little refreshed.

Robe rubis légère. Fruits rouges, canneberge, cerise. Alcool 12o. Légèrement fumé, minéral, sous-bois, charbon. Épices douces, girofle, cardamome noire, cola. Un PN qui transcrit avec pureté et simplicité un terroir d’altitude aux sous-sols crayeux s’exprimant ici sous la forme d’une acidité vive et tranchante aux multiples facettes, rappelant par certains aspects les Pinots-Noirs d’Alsace. Simple, sincère, profil nuancé type “ancien monde” très bon rapport qualité/prix. À boire un peu rafraîchi. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

My last bottle unfortunately. See previous notes from 74 weeks ago and 130 weeks ago. Mid yellow in colour. Obvious parrafin/kerosene on the nose. On the palate ripe grapefruit, nectarine and a little chalkiness. Only 10.2%ABV but not overly sweet. Low acid. Drinking at its peak. Riesling in Tasmania is excellent and flies under the radar to an extent. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Consistent notes as 3 previous tastings over 66 weeks. Mid to dark Ruby in colour. Lovely perfume of mature Cabernet with Geranium, mint and berries. Just a medium weight palate (but good intensity) from a cooler climate in the Coal River Tasmania. Beautifully made and drinking at its peak. My last one of 6. It’s a struggle sometimes in Tasmania to ripen Cabernet grapes sufficiently but Domaine A nearly always shows well. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Very minerally traces of coal dust - different and enjoyable. Just had a glass at China Doll Sydney - first visit. The wine was very good. Palate is on the restrained style - worked well with Scallops, Ginger and Shallots. Larry McKenna is an Australian winemaker who has enhanced his reputation at Escarpment. — 7 years ago

Christian Gray

9.1

Compelling. First Tasmanian wine I’ve ever had. Super fresh fruit. Would love some tuna steak with this. — 8 years ago