2024 Bubb + Pooley Pinot Noir

Justin Bubb and Anna Pooley are two of the most respected winemakers in Tasmania, and this label is their personal project. Sourced predominantly from their own 25-year-old estate vineyard in the Coal River Valley, this 2024 Pinot Noir is all about clarity, drive and letting the region's sandstone and clay soils speak for themselves.

The defining trick here is the use of old-world concrete tulip vessels alongside French oak for fermentation and maturation. They used about 20% whole bunches and skipped any aggressive hand-plunging, letting the grape skins infuse gently to keep the wine incredibly raw and expressive.

The nose is wonderfully lifted, showing dark cherry and raspberry fruit mixed with exotic spices, amaro and a touch of earthy nuance. On the palate, it shifts away from jammy sweetness into a more savoury, linear frame. The use of concrete gives it a beautifully smooth, seamless texture, backstopped by fine-grained tannins and a crisp line of natural acidity.It is a highly sophisticated Tassie Pinot that drinks beautifully now but has the architecture to cellar gracefully.