2023 Home Hill Pinot Noir, Huon Valley

Bright, nicely defined dark and red strawberry fruits with tones of exotic spice, leaf litter, dried cranberries, pressed meadow flowers, vanilla pod, Satsuma plum, mocha and earth. Savoury and long, the plum and cherry fruits plump up slightly on the palate, sheathed in spice, herb and gamey nuance, before focusing and travelling. Bright, with just a swish of sour cherry and chalky tannin at the back end. Drink to 2034.

94 points Dave Brookes for Halliday Wine Companion, February 2025

Home Hill is one of the quiet achievers of Tasmanian Pinot Noir, established by Terry and Rosemary Bennett at Ranelagh in the Huon Valley in the early 1990s. What began on a former apple orchard developed into one of southern Tasmania’s most respected family vineyards, with Pinot Noir at the centre of the story. The cool Huon climate gives the variety plenty of time to ripen slowly, building perfume and flavour while retaining that lovely natural freshness.

The vineyard sits south of Hobart in one of Australia’s coolest wine growing areas, where long daylight hours, cold nights and a prolonged growing season favour Pinot with fragrance rather than weight. The 2023 season was cool and extended, resulting in a more classical style with bright red fruit, fine tannins and savoury detail rather than excessive ripeness.

Bright ruby with a translucent edge. Wild strawberry, Morello cherry and raspberry lead into violet, blood orange and dried rose. Clove, thyme and black tea add a savoury thread, with a little forest floor appearing as it opens. The palate is silky and medium bodied, with juicy red fruit carried by fresh acidity and fine, gently grippy tannins. Cherry, orange peel and spice linger through a fragrant, earthy finish.

Tea smoked duck would be terrific, alongside miso glazed salmon, mushroom and taleggio risotto, char siu pork or roasted eggplant with sesame and spring onion. Our pick is the salmon, with its sweet savoury glaze playing beautifully against the Pinot’s red fruit and gentle spice.