Giant Steps Fatal Shore Pinot Noir 2022

In 1986, The Fatal Shore by Australian author and art critic Robert Hughes, was published in the United States and the UK. A brooding, part novel and part historical tome: “The Epic of Australia’s Founding”, it delves into the dark history of Tasmania’s colonisation through the transportation of convicts to this remote and wild island.

The Coal River Valley lies over the Meehan Range East of Hobart and rolls down to the Southern Ocean; remote and wild are the images conjured up when visiting this pristine agrarian region, first farmed in the early 1800’s.

Accolades:
97/100 – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
96/100 – Huon Hooke, The Real Review
95/100 – Halliday Wine Companion

“It was a late, cold start to spring 2021 in Coal River Valley, followed by an unbelievably mild summer (barely a couple of days over 32 degrees Celsius). This batch wasn’t picked until the 22nd of April, a month later than the last Pinot pick in the Yarra Valley. The fruit is picked in the morning, put onto a shipping container, out on the 7 p.m. boat and at the winery in Healesville 36 hours after it is picked. They used 20% whole bunch for fermentation, and the wine matured for nine months. Planted in the vineyard are MV6 predominantly and D clones. The 2022 Fatal Shore Pinot Noir leads with rosemary, lavender, concentrated raspberry in the mouth (wow!) and layers of ductile tannin to support the fruit. The tannins are pronounced here, and it’s great; there’s plenty to chew on. The fruit is sapid and pure, decidedly floral and quite savory. There are also notes of graphite, iodine, blood, dried rose petal, tobacco, five spice/cumin/clove/ras el hanout. Super. This is an excellent wine, Tassie showing its prowess here. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.” – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“From the Nocton vineyard in Coal River Valley. Hand picked into a refrigerated container by 10.30am to make the boat to the mainland. The 60% MV6 clone is whole bunches and the 40% D5V12 clone is fully destemmed. All barriques, 20% new. A bright crimson red, this leaps from the glass with its heady aromas of red raspberries, wild strawberries and redcurrant, a little potpourri and spices such as mace and pink peppercorns. Brightly fruited yet nicely balanced with gently persistent tannins and refreshing acidity, it’s so delicious from the get-go, you really can enjoy this now but know that it will still be looking good 5-7 years from now.” – Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion

Vintage Note: The 2022 season in Tasmania started cold and wet, with delayed budburst and flowering due to cold weather. Plant growth was slow due to cool conditions all the way up until just prior to flowering, when some well-timed heat spurred the vines along. Flowering was late, but consistent, going though in two weeks. Lots of shoot and crop thinning was done throughout the season, as well as some extensive leaf plucking due to the cool conditions. It was a very mild summer with only two days over 33 degrees Celsius experienced at the vineyard, which meant a long and slow ripening. The grapes were picked late for our vineyard, coming in on 22nd of April.

Winemaking Notes: Hand picked, straight into a refrigerated container parked on the vineyard. The fruit is then immediately driven to Devonport and sailed across Bass Strait so we receive it into the winery the following morning. Fruit was destemmed and cold soaked for three – four days in open oak vats and open stainless steel fermenters. The MV6 (from the top of the hill) was fermented as whole bunches in an oak fermenter. Both parcels were matured in French oak – 25% new, 75% older – for eight months in 225L barriques D&J, Vicard and Taransaud. Racked to blend, no fining, no filtration. Bottled by gravity.

Alcohol: 13.5%

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Coal River Valley, Tasmania, Australia