I realise it has been a while since I posted a special, well anything for that matter but, I have been pretty darn busy of late and time was an issue. Unfortunately, there haven't really been any great, or even good, specials to crow about. As we get closer to Christmas and New Year I'm sure there will be plenty.
Anyway, this time around I want to bring to your attention the under-rated, regularly forgotten but very rewarding Pinot Noir (that's pee-no nwah) variety. It may come as a surprise to you but Pinot has been cultivated in Europe for at least 2000 years and, it first came to Australia in 1831 with the first cuttings planted in the Hunter Valley. Let's just say, it was not successful and as such, other areas of the country were tested and the cooler areas proved to be ideal. Tasmania's renaissance began in 1956 at the Providence vineyard east of Launceston with Claudio Alcorso starting Moorilla Estate in 1956 on the outskirts of Hobart. Since then a number of areas of Tasmania now grow Pinot and is rapidly asserting itself as the best region for this variety. Don't get me wrong, I love my Barossa Shiraz and Coonawarra Cabernet but cool climate Pinot is just as interesting and cellar-worthy. At the recent Royal Hobart Wine Show, there were a record number of entries for the Pinot classes with Tassie drops being awarded 8 Gold, 21 Silver & 40 Bronze medals. To top it off, a Tassie Pinot from a winery called Blustery Banks took out the Wine Show Trophy and top gold medal in it's class. Okay, so they can be expensive sometimes but, wait until the bottle shops have their pre-Christmas sales and buy some and give them a try. You will not be disappointed. 'Til next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.
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