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Feature Release
2006 Tamar Ridge Vintage is a wine that Dr Pirie assembled shortly after starting at Tamar Ridge. The reason that it has champagne hallmarks relates to two factors- it is a full methode traditionelle, bottle fermented etc from cool climate fruit, and it has been made with French-style juice handling. Autolysis aromas are in the bready-yeasty range as expected for the style and the palate is dry but rich and long in taste.
$30.50 per bottle SAVE $4.17 ORDER
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The ownership of Tamar Ridge Estates by Brown Brothers of Victoria became effective on the 31st of August 2010. Brown Brothers had strategic interest in Tasmania on two fronts: concern about the impact of drought and bushfire and eventually global warming on their vineyards in Victoria and a desire to add a cool climate source of pinot noir and sparkling to their portfolio.
They started looking at cooler climate options outside Victoria. In the course of this search they discovered not only that the ownership of a significant expansion in Tasmania by Tamar Ridge Estates was available but also that there was a strong complementarity between their own range and the Tasmanian labels. For instance Brown Brothers have no Pinot Noir table wines in the market.
I have worked with Brown Brothers personally since the late 70s and the type of strategic thinking that underpinned their passage to Tasmania is a hallmark of the family company. John Brown Senior visited Pipers Brook Vineyard while I was in charge in the mid-90s, taking his Vineyard managers on a technical tour, showing that their inquisitiveness concerning new frontiers goes back several years and at least one generation. Also in recent years they have shown an understanding of the basic agronomy of viticulture- planting the right varieties in the right regions- that much of Australia has got wrong.
Personally I think their involvement in Tasmania is not only great news for Brown Brothers - it bodes well for the future of Tasmanian wine and I could not think of a better company to own a chunk of the modern Tasmanian wine industry.
It is business as usual at Tamar Ridge Estates as far as wine making and our wine club is concerned. I remain involved but now on a part-time basis. I will continue with the major benchmark tastings and will personally support the Pirie label. As you can see I will continue penning the introduction to the newsletters and helping with the selection of wines to be offered to the wine club.
The wines in this release I think show the reason for Brown Brothers' presence in Tasmania. Three completely different but authentic expressions of pinot noir red wine and a sparkling that can give champagne at triple the price a run for its money. The Coombend Pinot Noir, Devil's Corner Pinot Noir, SOUTH Pinot Noir and the Tamar Ridge 2006 Vintage Sparkling.
Dr Andrew Pirie
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Other New Releases
 Devil's Corner Pinot Noir 2010
A strongly perfumed style redolent of black cherries with hints of violets and even a touch of ginger spice. Soft and full of flavour this wine is showing upfront flavours of cherry supported by some savoury elements. A great lighter style of pinot perfect for summer, can even be served slightly chilled. Entry level pinot noir is 2010 Devil's Corner role and yet it often is chosen in the top rank of pinot noirs of all prices because of its pure expression of pinot noir perfume. Pinot noir does not have to be big to be good and this is a perfect illustration.
$15.17 per bottle SAVE $1.93 ORDER
 Coombend Pinot Noir 2009
Fruit is from the new vines from the Coombend property on the east coast and I think this is a milestone wine for the property, the company and the region. Pinot noir selections known as Pommard and 777 have found a special niche on the new Coombend vineyard and combined with the dry climate of the region have produced an outstanding wine of - dare I say it - Central Otago dimensions. It has deep colour for a pinot noir but incredibly aromatic red fruits in the blackcurrant and blueberry preserve spectrum along with nice underplayed oak. It is even redolent of violets- a feature of very expensive pinot noirs.
$20.25 per bottle SAVE $2.55 ORDER
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SOUTH Pinot Noir 2010
Our objective for the SOUTH Pinot Noir is to show faithfully the style and intensity of Upper Tamar Valley pinot noir in a young wine that remains delicate and fresh.
$15.00 per bottle SAVE $3.95 ORDER
 Tamar Ridge Kayena Vineyard Botrytis Riesling 2009
The nose of the botrytis has vibrant aromas of rich ripe apricot, dried pears and hints of musk, through to the palate which is a luscious dessert style with apricot and citrus flavours filling the mouth. Bright natural acidity balances the sweetness leaving a fresh long finish.
$20.50 per bottle SAVE $3.25 ORDER
 Tamar Ridge Kayena Vineyard Merlot 2008
Spicy plum and dark cherry fruit aromas along with attractive dark chocolate with hints of slight earthiness. This is a medium weight style with mouth-filling plum fruits dominating the front of the palate. The mid-palate has soft fine tannins and gentle vanillin oak complexity which has good flavour persistence with a dry finish.$22.33 per bottle SAVE $3.32 ORDER
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Devil's Corner Pinot Grigio 2010
This is our first release from the 2010 vintage. It is fresh, fragrant and appealing with abundant ripe pear, dried herbs and a hint of spicy musk. The palate shows mouth filling fruit flavours of pear juice with an attractive herbal edge, great mouth feel and excellent flavour persistence. The finish is crisp, clean and long. A perfect style to enjoy over the coming warmer months.
$15.17 per bottle SAVE $1.93 ORDER
 Pirie 'Estate' Gewurztraminer 2008
Gewurztraminer has one of the most distinctive aroma and flavour profiles of any grape variety. This wine is certainly true to type, benefiting from Tasmania's cool climate to show its full array of aromatics. The nose is perfumed and exotic with aromas of lychee and musk and just a touch of rose petal. The palate is full with a surprising weight of flavours of lychee and spicy musk with a finish that is soft, balanced and lingering
$23.00 per bottle SAVE $2.65 ORDER
 Pirie 'Estate' Chardonnay 2008
Vineyards further inland than Kayena have given this wine its distinctive style. It is restrained as one would expect from a cool region, with almost a Chablis leanness coming from the cool nights. There is a complex interplay on the palate between the oak, the fruit and the buttery characters from the secondary fermentation in barrel. Again, give it two years and then match with some smoked ham.
$29.33 per bottle SAVE $3.92 ORDER
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 Coombend Riesling 2010
The colour is bright, pale straw with tinges of green. The nose is stylish and intense with attractive lemon and Granny Smith apple fruit aromas and just a hint of spicy florals. The palate is attractive with fresh fruit characters of apple and citrus filling the mouth and leading to a finish that is crisp, long and persistent.
$16.67 per bottle SAVE $2.33 ORDER
 Coombend Botrytis Riesling 2009
This is the first dessert wine from Coombend in almost ten years and the first ever made from riesling. The technique of reintroducing the juice onto the marc in order to allow natural enzymes to break down the pulp and release more juice has concentrated the typical vineyard characters. The result is a wine with a deep orange/gold colour and a nose of intense candied orange peel overlaid by heady floral and spice aromas. The palate is full, unctuous and incredibly sweet without being cloying, and showing bittersweet flavours reminiscent of Seville orange marmalade.
$23.17 per bottle SAVE $3.43 ORDER
 Coombend Mail Run Red (Cab-Merlot) 2007
2007 was a warm, early year delivering fruit with excellent composition and flavour. The nose has various elements of smoke, spice, dried oregano, earth, liqueur cherries and 'figgy' oak. The palate is fine-boned with plum pudding spices, coffee and tight, dry tannins.
$19.25 per bottle SAVE $2.60 ORDER
 Rosevears Merlot 2007
This merlot is from a good, warm vintage from one of the best protected sites on the Tamar. The result is a fleshy, firmly structured wine with abundant ripe, upfront fruit flavours, firm tannins and balanced acidity. Enjoyable now or could be cellared for up to 5 years.
$18.00 per bottle SAVE $2.90 ORDER
 Notley Gorge Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Showing all the vibrance and verve that makes cool climate sauvignon blanc such a popular and easy-drinking style. Fresh with strong fragrant of asparagus, zesty citrus, with underlying notes of sweet fruit and grassness. The finish is crisp and refreshing with good mouth-filling flavours.
$14.66 per bottle SAVE $1.49 ORDER
 Notley Gorge Chardonnay 2008
This is a very fresh and appealing unwooded style chardonnay with zingy citrus/ grape fruit flavours. Perfumed with splashes of citrus, butterscotch and hints of ripe melons. Good length with nicely balanced acidity.
$14.66 per bottle SAVE $1.49 ORDER
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