Tasmania has the ideal micro-climate for producing some pretty compelling  cool climate varietals. Pinot Noir seems to have found a perfect fit in this cool climate Island state, the only problem is we don’t see much from there as most producers are fairly small in scale and the wines either get absorbed in more local markets or just don’t find the right importer to give what is available the necessary attention to make things work.

Holm Oak is a small boutique producer in the northern part of Tasmania, in the Tamar River Valley, that has done justice with Pinot Noir over the few years we have been exposed to the label. The 2019 Estate Pinot Noir is sourced from estate vines and encapsulates all the elegance that the varietal has to offer. A light translucent red color gives way to a nose that showcases pretty red fruits of cherry and strawberry accentuated with a light floral component along with some spice and underbrush adding nuance. Medium bodied, there’s a lovely silky textural quality to the palate where the lightly spiced red flavors have nice lift and brightness, while the finer tuned tannins and carrying acidity bring this to a nice conclusion. With some aeration this opens up beautifully showcasing the elegance and refinement that are the hallmarks of well made Pinot Noir. Drinking spot on as we speak this should drink beautifully for another 2-3 more years quite easily.