2024 Holyman Pinot Noir, Tamar Valley

The Holyman Pinot Noir from Tasmania’s Tamar Valley is the flagship red from Joe and Lou Holyman, crafted at their Stoney Rise estate overlooking the Tamar River. While Project X has gained a cult following for its whole-bunch, experimental edge, the estate Pinot is the more classical expression – pure, elegant and a benchmark for Tasmanian Pinot Noir. Joe Holyman, known for his uncompromising standards and passion for cool-climate winemaking, has built this wine to capture both the vibrancy of fruit and the savoury complexity that makes Pinot so compelling.

The Tamar Valley’s maritime climate, influenced by the Bass Strait, allows for slow ripening and perfect acid retention. Estate vines planted on volcanic soils provide intensity and mineral drive, while the long, cool growing season builds perfume and finesse. Winemaking is simple and precise: hand harvesting, partial whole-bunch fermentation in small open vats, gentle plunging and ageing in French oak barriques (around one-third new). This approach delivers a wine that speaks clearly of site and variety.

In the glass it is bright garnet with ruby highlights. Aromatically it offers red cherry, wild strawberry and cranberry, lifted by rose petals, spice, undergrowth and a hint of smoky oak. The palate is medium-bodied and finely textured, with silky tannins and bright acidity carrying flavours of red fruits, savoury herbs and forest floor. The finish is long, poised and persistent – elegant in youth, but structured enough to reward time in the cellar.

Food pairings highlight its balance of fruit and savoury nuance: roast duck, pork belly with fennel, seared salmon, or vegetarian dishes such as wild mushroom risotto and roasted beetroot with balsamic. It also pairs beautifully with soft, creamy cheeses. With 8 to 12 years of cellaring potential, Holyman Pinot Noir develops earthy, truffle and game notes, showing why Tasmanian Pinot is regarded among the best in the Southern Hemisphere.