97 Points – James Halliday

Tolpuddle Vineyard is Tasmania's most celebrated single-vineyard estate — a 20-hectare site in the Coal River Valley planted in 1988 and now managed by Shaw + Smith. The 2024 Pinot Noir is the finest release yet, scoring 97 points from James Halliday and described as a wine that “smells and tastes of a special place.” This is Australian Pinot Noir at its absolute pinnacle.

My Wine Man

This is for the serious Pinot lover who wants the best Tasmania has to offer. Winemaker Adam Wadewitz has assembled an extraordinary blend of clones — 777, 667, Abel, Pommard, MV6, and some sourced from Best's Great Western — each playing its part in a wine of remarkable complexity and precision. If you've ever wondered what world-class Pinot Noir looks like from Australia, this is the answer.

Tasting Notes

Wonderfully perfumed and composed. Vibrant dark cherry, red berry and raspberry fruit tones mesh with hints of exotic spice, a whiff of negroni, juniper, wild strawberry, almond paste, integrated vanillin oak, meadow flowers and crushed stone. On the palate, everything plays at concert pitch — complex whole-bunch notes (50%), the gentle tension of ground-riverstone tannins, and a fine mineral line as the wine slowly trails away. A cracking release.

Style & Drinking Window

Medium-bodied with silky, precise tannins and a long mineral finish. Drinking beautifully now and will reward 5–10 years in the cellar. Serve lightly chilled at 14–16°C. A natural match for duck breast, salmon, mushroom dishes, or pinot-friendly charcuterie.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

At 97 Halliday points, the 2024 Tolpuddle is one of the highest-scoring Australian Pinot Noirs ever produced. From a single vineyard with over 35 years of history, made by one of Australia's most gifted winemakers — this is a collector's bottle that also happens to be drinking beautifully right now.

Looking for a different style?

To compare vintages, the 2023 Tolpuddle Vineyard Pinot Noir is a fascinating side-by-side. For the estate's equally celebrated white, the 2024 Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay is exceptional. For a more accessible Tasmanian Pinot, the 2023 Dalrymple Pinot Noir is the place to start.

Life's too short for bad wine.