Winner 2023 Halliday Wine Companion Winery of the Year
“Tucked into a bend of the meandering Coal River, there is a deep spirit about the quaint Cooinda Vale vineyard, still the source of Pooley’s finest wines. To winemaker Anna Pooley, sense of place is everything, “for this is where the heart and soul of wine exists.” It is the eloquent articulation of the native Tasmanian spirit of the rugged and beautiful landscapes of their Cooinda Vale and Butcher’s Hill vineyards that has elevated Pooley Wines to the pinnacle of Australian pinot noir, chardonnay and riesling…”
Tyson Stelzer, Halliday Wine Companion
About
Pooley Wines was established in 1985 when the late Denis and Margaret Pooley planted ten rows of Riesling and seven rows of Pinot Noir on their 16-hectare farm at Cooinda Vale in the Coal River Valley in southern Tasmania, and then a further second vineyard in the Coal River Valley at Richmond. Margaret Pooley remained the chief executive of Cooinda Vale Vineyard until well into her nineties. She was a hardy Scot and could be found tending vines during the coldest Tasmanian winters.
In 2003, John Pooley, son of Denis and Margaret, and his wife Libby bought Belmont, a heritage-listed Georgian home on the outskirts of Richmond. They have been lovingly renovating this second Pooley Wines Coal River Valley property, and have planted vines on nearby Butchers Hill. In 2007 the first vintage of Pinot was produced. The cellar door is housed in old sandstone stables on the Belmont property.
All the vines are tended by Matt Pooley and wines made by his sibling Anna Pooley and husband Justin Bubb.
2023 New Releases
2023 Riesling
Varietal/s: Riesling
GI: Coal River Valley, Tasmania.
Clones: GM198, 1001, GM119
Yield: 4-6 tonnes / Ha
Baume: 11.0 to 12.1
Alcohol: 12.8%
PH: 3.05
TA: 9.3g/L
Residual Sugar: 3.0g/L
Harvest Date: 3rd April 2023 - 20th April 2023
Bottle Date: 8th September 2023
Production: 13,620 bottles
Vinification:
Fruit was hand picked and cooled overnight to 5 degrees. Whole bunch pressed the following day. Inoculated ferment with TXL yeast in stainless steel. Followed by 4 months maturation on fine lees.
Growing Season:
The 2023 growing season started with budburst in September and continued with flowering in November. This year, we experienced a lot of wind and rain during flowering which makes for very challenging conditions. Between October and December 2022, there was 230mm of rainfall at both of our vineyard sites. It resulted in poor fruit set, and an overall reduction in yield for the season. Late December saw the rain disappear, leading away from the La Nina weather pattern and towards a drier, warmer El Nino period. It was a mild summer with no extremes of heat, whilst remaining warm. This is great for steady and slow development of flavour, acid, sugar, and tannin. All the elements that make for great quality wine.
Tasting Notes:
A bright and crunchy cool-climate riesling with notes of citrus peel, nectarine, and granny smith apple on the nose. Lemon curd, gooseberry and pink grapefruit follow on the palate. A slight note of talc, with a nervy acid profile and a textured, lingering finish.
2023 Pinot Grigio
Varietal/s: Pinot Grigio
GI: Coal River Valley, Tasmania.
Alcohol: 13.3%
PH: 3.1
TA: 9 g/L
Production: 25,135 bottles
Residual Sugar: 0 g/L
Vinification:
The fruit was chilled to 5 degrees then whole-bunch pressed to tank. Cold settled and racked to tank for ferment. On fine lees for 3 months.
Growing Season:
The 2023 growing season started with budburst in September and continued with flowering in November. This year, we experienced a lot of wind and rain during flowering which makes for very challenging conditions. Between October and December 2022, there was 230mm of rainfall at both of our vineyard sites. It resulted in poor fruit set, and an overall reduction in yield for the season. Late December saw the rain disappear, leading away from the La Nina weather pattern and towards a drier, warmer El Nino period. It was a mild summer with no extremes of heat, whilst remaining warm. This is great for steady and slow development of flavour, acid, sugar, and tannin. All the elements that make for great quality wine.
Tasting Note:
A vibrant aroma of citrus blossom, candy apple and yuzu on the nose. Bright characters of white peach and apricot follow on the palate with subtle notes of green apple and beeswax. Strong acid and persistent length finish this lovely wine.
Optimal Drinking: 2023-2028
2023 Chardonnay
Varietal/s: Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13.3%
GI: Tasmania, Australia
TA: 8.82g/L
PH: 3.15
Clone/s: P56, P76
Yield: 5.0 T/Ha
Baume: 12.3
Harvest Date: March 23rd 2023
Bottle Date: November 8th, 2023
Production: 9333 bottles.
Vinification:
Fruit was cooled to 5 degrees overnight before being whole bunch pressed. Juice was fermented in tank to keep temperatures maintained at 18 degrees celsius then transferred to barrel at less than 1 Baume to finish ferment in barrel. It remained in barrel for 7 months on full lees. It was aged in French oak barriques of which 20% were new. 20% malolactic fermentation.
Growing Season:
The 2023 growing season started with budburst in September and continued with flowering in November. This year, we experienced a lot of wind and rain during flowering which makes for very challenging conditions. Between October and December 2022, there was 230mm of rainfall at both of our vineyard sites. It resulted in poor fruit set, and an overall reduction in yield for the season. Late December saw the rain disappear, leading away from the La Nina weather pattern and towards a drier, warmer El Nino period. It was a mild summer with no extremes of heat, whilst remaining warm. This is great for steady and slow development of flavour, acid, sugar, and tannin. All the elements that make for great quality wine.
Tasting Notes:
Summer fruits on the nose with white peach, rockmelon, and pear followed by a palate of candy apple, nectarine and toasted biscuit. Plenty of generosity and depth of character with a lean acid profile and seamlessly integrated oak.
Optimal Drinking: 2021 - 2031
Black Label Wines
2022 Margaret Pooley Tribute Riesling
Varietal/s: Riesling
Clone/s: GM198
Alcohol: 12.1%
GI: Coal River Valley, Southern Tasmania.
Yield: 8.0 T/Ha
TA: 9.6g/L
PH: 3.02
Baume: 11.5
RS: 3.0 g/L
Harvest Date: 12th April 2022
Bottle Date: 19th August 2022
Production: Bottles
Vinification:
The fruit was hand-picked, then cooled overnight to 5 degrees. Whole bunch pressed the following day. Inoculated fermentation with TXL yeast in stainless steel. Matured for 5 months on fine lees in old French oak puncheons.
Vineyard:
Location: Cooinda Vale, Campania
Appellation: Coal River Valley
Established: 1985
Elevation: 80m-100m
Soil Type: Sandy loams & sandy clay loam over impervious clay
Aspect: North-East Facing
Size: 12ha under vine
Growing Season:
The lead-up to 2022 vintage included one of the wettest winters on record, a cool drying spring into summer with high humidity. All these factors led to healthy canopies and bunch numbers. The cool conditions, especially around the time of flowering resulted in some poor fruit-set in earlier flowering varieties. This delivered a combination of small and large size berries to form reducing the overall yields and intake in those varieties. The vintage started a couple of days later than usual, but with the high humidity/ lowered diurnal range, our late ripening varieties were picked slightly earlier than usual. Overall, a quality vintage.
Tasting Notes:
A resplendent aroma of orange blossom, mandarin and honeysuckle. Superb tension and balance with notes of lime, cumquat, orange peel and beeswax follow on the palate. Persistent acidity through to the end.
2022 Jack Denis Pooley Pinot Noir
Varietal/s: Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 13%
PH: 3.60
TA: 6.2 g/l
Yield: 6 tonnes/Hectare
Clone/s: 114, 115, Pommard
Baume: 12.5
Harvest Date: 1st April - 10th April, 2022
Bottle Date: 10th March, 2023
Production: bottles
Viticulture:
Vineyard: Cooinda Vale
Location: Campania, Tasmania
Appellation: Coal River Valley
Established: 1985
Elevation: 80m-100m
Soil Type: Shallow sandy clay loams over impervious clays.
Aspect: Sheltered North-East facing
Size: 12ha under vine
Vinification:
Fruit was hand picked, 80% destemmed and 20% whole bunch. Wild fermentation on skins for 12 days then a 10 day post ferment maceration. Matured for 11 months in 50% new French oak barriques (Cavin and St Martin).
Growing Season:
The lead-up to 2022 vintage included one of the wettest winters on record, a cool drying spring into summer with high humidity. All these factors led to healthy canopies and bunch numbers. The cool conditions, especially around the time of flowering resulted in some poor fruit-set in earlier flowering varieties. This delivered a combination of small and large size berries to form reducing the overall yields and intake in those varieties. The vintage started a couple of days later than usual, but with the high humidity/ lowered diurnal range, our late ripening varieties were picked slightly earlier than usual. Overall, a quality vintage.
Tasting Notes:
Brooding notes of cedar, violets, cherry and warming spice on the nose. Blackberries, wild mushroom and black cherries delight the palate with underlying notes of earth and savoury tobacco. There’s a measured restraint to this wine with a crushed velvet texture and pitch-perfect acidity.
Optimal Drinking: 2023 to 2040
2022 Butchers Hill Oronsay Pinot Noir
Varietal/s: Pinot Noir
Clone/s: MV6
Alcohol: 13%
GI: Coal River Valley, Southern Tasmania.
Yield: 4 T/Ha
TA: 6.05 /L
PH: 3.55
Baume: 13.2
Harvest Date: 22nd March 2022
Bottle Date: 1st April 2023
Production: 988 Bottles
Vinification:
The fruit was hand-picked and 80% whole bunch fermented. The 20% destemmed portion was placed on the bottom of the fermenter. Minimal pump overs. 18 days on skins in total. XR yeast used. Matured in 50% new oak using Sirugue barrels for 11 months.
Vineyard:
Location: Cooinda Vale, Campania
Appellation: Coal River Valley
Established: 1985
Elevation: 80m-100m
Soil Type: Sandy loams & sandy clay loam over impervious clay
Aspect: North-East Facing
Size: 12ha under vine
Growing Season:
The lead-up to 2022 vintage included one of the wettest winters on record, a cool drying spring into summer with high humidity. All these factors led to healthy canopies and bunch numbers. The cool conditions, especially around the time of flowering resulted in some poor fruit-set in earlier flowering varieties. This delivered a combination of small and large size berries to form reducing the overall yields and intake in those varieties. The vintage started a couple of days later than usual, but with the high humidity/ lowered diurnal range, our late ripening varieties were picked slightly earlier than usual. Overall, a quality vintage.
Tasting Notes:
Fragrant aromas of cranberries and vanilla with a dusting of allspice on the nose. Sour cherries, allspice and forest floor continues through on the palate. Finishes with well-integrated tannins and layered complexity.
2022 Cooinda Vale Oronsay Pinot Noir
Varietal/s: Pinot Noir
Clone/s: Abel, Pommard
Alcohol: 13%
GI: Coal River Valley, Southern Tasmania.
Yield: 4.5 T/Ha
TA: 6.01 g/L
PH: 3.65
Baume: 12.8
Harvest Date: 13th April 2022
Bottle Date: 1st April 2023
Production: 1008 Bottles
Vinification:
The fruit was hand-picked, 85% whole bunch fermented with the 15% destemmed portion placed on the bottom of the fermenter. Minimal pump overs with 14 days on skins. XR yeast used. Matured in 50% new French oak barriques from St Martin and Cavin for 11 months.
Vineyard:
Location: Cooinda Vale, Campania
Appellation: Coal River Valley
Established: 1985
Elevation: 80m-100m
Soil Type: Sandy loams & sandy clay loam over impervious clay
Aspect: North-East Facing
Size: 12ha under vine
Growing Season:
The lead-up to 2022 vintage included one of the wettest winters on record, a cool drying spring into summer with high humidity. All these factors led to healthy canopies and bunch numbers. The cool conditions, especially around the time of flowering resulted in some poor fruit-set in earlier flowering varieties. This delivered a combination of small and large size berries to form reducing the overall yields and intake in those varieties. The vintage started a couple of days later than usual, but with the high humidity/ lowered diurnal range, our late ripening varieties were picked slightly earlier than usual. Overall, a quality vintage.
Tasting Notes:
An attractive aroma of kirsch, raspberry and sultanas with underlying notes of pepper. The palate is refined with dark cherry, earth and allspice. Fine tannins and bright acidity finish this wine with terrific length.
2022 JRD Syrah
Varietal/s: Syrah
Clone/s: Tahbilk
Alcohol: 13.5%
GI: Coal River Valley, Southern Tasmania.
Yield: 4.5 T/Ha
TA: 6.10 g/L
PH: 3.55
Baume: 13
Harvest Date: 5th May 2022
Bottle Date: 14th September 2023
Production: 1261 Bottles
Vinification:
The fruit was hand-picked. 100% destemmed, 12 days on skins inoculated with XR yeast, matured for 14 months in 25% new French Oak Barriques (Vallaurine).
Vineyard:
Location: Cooinda Vale, Campania
Appellation: Coal River Valley
Established: 1985
Elevation: 80m-100m
Soil Type: Sandy loams & sandy clay loam over impervious clay
Aspect: North-East Facing
Size: 12ha under vine
Growing Season:
The lead-up to 2022 vintage included one of the wettest winters on record, a cool drying spring into summer with high humidity. All these factors led to healthy canopies and bunch numbers. The cool conditions, especially around the time of flowering resulted in some poor fruit-set in earlier flowering varieties. This delivered a combination of small and large size berries to form reducing the overall yields and intake in those varieties. The vintage started a couple of days later than usual, but with the high humidity/ lowered diurnal range, our late ripening varieties were picked slightly earlier than usual. Overall, a quality vintage.
Tasting Notes:
Bountiful aromas of violets and vanilla with a dusting of white pepper. Following through to candied blueberries, allspice and orange on the palate. Finishing with a perfect crushed velvet texture.