Best Pinot Noir in Tasmania
The 2021 Clarence House Block 1 Pinot Noir has taken out the top gong at the 2022 Australian Pinot Noir Challenge. The pinot from Tasmania’s Coal River Valley was a winemaking triumph between winemaker Anna Pooley, cardiology specialist Professor David Kilpatrick, and viticulturists Mark Hoey and Max Marriott.
Tasmanian icon Clarence House was built in 1830 but the vineyard wasn't planted until Professor Kilpatrick acquired the estate 168 years later in 1998.
Winemaking duo Anna Pooley and Justin Bubb have been working with Clarence House since 2015, implementing regenerative and organic practices.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have won this award. All of us are collectively involved in every decision and have a shared vision to produce the very best wine we can, and a wine that is a real joy to drink," says Anna.
“Mark and Max have worked really hard to fine-tune the vineyard, starting from the ground up to enhance soil health and biodiversity, vine health and balance. Block 1 is a great example of the work they have done. It performs consistently, producing fruit of latent power, energy and elegance, which we knew we could achieve here.”
The 2021 was a product of the Dijon 777 clone, which Clarence House first trialled in 2002, and has produced exceptional fruit in Block 1 for the past 20 years.
The Australian Pinot Noir Challenge celebrates Australia's fourth most crushed grape and highlights the very best wines produced in key regions. The winners were decided by an expert panel led by Matt Harrop (Curly Flat), along with Marcus Satchell (Dirty Three Wines and Satch Wines), Tom Wallace (Devil's Corner, Tamar Ridge, and Pirie Tasmania), Penny Vine (Cutler & Co), and Christian Bradshaw (Kooyong and Port Phillip Estate).
The judging panel selected the top regional wines based on aromatic complexity, concentrated flavours and an expression of place.
“Selecting the top wine of the challenge proved to be a very difficult task. With 21 gold medal wines from six different regions, nominating the best of each region came down to the wines that displayed a beautiful balance of site expression and winemaking technique,” says Matt.
2021 Clarence House Block 1 Pinot Noir
Below are the six 2022 regional winners, including the first Best of Region trophy for the Adelaide Hills.
The 2022 Australian Pinot Noir Challenge Best of Region results:
Adelaide Hills
2021 Michael Hall Wines Lenswood Pinot Noir
Gippsland
2021 Purple Hen Pinot Noir
Geelong
2021 Scotchmans Hill Pinot Noir
Mornington Peninsula
2021 Handpicked Wines Mornington Peninsula Collection Pinot Noir
Tasmania
2021 Clarence House Block 1 Pinot Noir
Yarra Valley
2021 Yarra Yering Pinot Noir
For the complete list of results, visit pinotchallenge.com.au.
