Lowestoft La Maison Pinot Noir 2023

A powerful yet poised expression of Tasmanian Pinot Noir, the 2023 Lowestoft ‘La Maison’ is crafted from 100% estate-grown fruit at one of Tasmania’s most historically significant vineyard sites. Planted in 1986 on the banks of the Derwent River, the Lowestoft vineyard is close-planted at 8,300 vines per hectare and farmed with a meticulous eye toward precision and purity.

The 2023 growing season began cool and wet, delivering modest yields and excellent acid retention. February brought the driest conditions in 64 years, allowing fruit to ripen slowly and evenly. Hand-picked Pinot Noir was fermented with up to 100% whole cluster inclusion in 1.5-tonne open fermenters. Fermentations were spontaneous, with no additions. The cap was gently wetted via twice-daily pumpovers, followed by 21 days on skins. Pressed directly into 500L French oak puncheons (25% new), the wine matured for 13 months with minimal intervention.

Aromatically intense, the wine opens with dark cherry, black tea, dried sage, and amaro. The palate unfurls with seductive red fruits, bergamot, and orange peel, tightly woven into whole bunch tannins and lingering spice. Mineral acidity draws the wine to a long, savoury finish—refined, textural and unmistakably Tasmanian.