Pooley 2020 Summer Release
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.
(Photo: Pooley Website)
Tasting Notes
2020 Cooinda Vale Chardonnay
Varietal/s: Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13.2%
GI: Tasmania, Australia
TA: 6.8g/L
PH: 3.28
Clone/s: Penfolds, I10V1
Yield: 5.5 T/Ha
Baume: 12.2
Harvest Date: March 1st, 2020
Bottle Date: February 20th, 2021
Production: 3828 bottles.
Vinification:
Hand-picked, chilled to 5 degrees overnight. Whole bunch pressed to tank, then put to barrel the next morning. 9 months maturation in 40% new French oak barriques (80% Marcel Cadet and 20% St Martin) with minimal lees stirring. Wild, barrel fermentation for 20 days. 40% malolactic fermentation.
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: 6ha under vine
Growing Season:
2020 saw a dry start to the growing season with winter rainfall well below average. Cold and windy conditions during flowering resulted in smaller yields. Early summer saw a continuation of dry conditions, but temperatures moderated significantly coupled with significant rainfall in late February and March freshened up canopies providing an ideal finish to the growing season.
Tasting Notes:
An intricately perfumed and poised wine with lovely tension, persistent length, and seamless balance. Incredibly generous on the nose with notes of wet stone, flint, white florals, and toasted almond with marzipan, mineral, peach, and oyster shell following through on the palate. A sensational future ahead.
Optimal Drinking: 2021 - 2035+
Winefront Reviews by Campbell Mattinson
Posted on 12 January 2022
“Just looking through the history of Pooley Vale Chardonnay reviews on Winefront, it would seem that we generally prefer the Cooinda Vale, by a smidgen, though we generally love both, and it’s not a hard-and-fast result. This year I’m just in favour of the Butcher’s Hill release thanks to its (by a whisker) better integration of oak, but it’s a close-run thing. Both are excellent.
This is good/great now but it’s only going to get better. It has terrific power, and presence. Pure stonefruit, some meal-like notes, cedarwood oak as a complement, whispers of both fragrant herbs and smoked bacon. There’s texture here, appreciable texture, yet its slung with acidity and the carry that goes with it. The chardonnays of Pooley deserve a stint in a decanter prior to serving; both the 2020 releases are classic examples. The take-home though is that you cannot go wrong with the Pooley chardonnay out of 2020.”
95+ Points
2020 Butcher's Hill Chardonnay
Varietal/s: Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13.3%
GI: Tasmania, Australia
TA: 7.0g/L
PH: 3.19
Clone/s: Penfolds (76+96), I10V1
Yield: 5.0 T/Ha
Baume: 12.7
Harvest Date: March 16th, 2020
Bottle Date: February 19th, 2021
Production: 3432 bottles.
Vinification:
Hand-picked, chilled to 5 degrees overnight. Whole-bunch pressed to tank, then put to barrel the next morning. 9 months maturation in 40% new French oak barriques (80% Marcel Cadet and 20% Sirugue, 36 months seasoned, tight grain) with minimal lees stirring. Wild, barrel fermentation for 22 days. 40% malolactic fermentation.
Vineyard:
Location: Butcher’s Hill, Richmond. Appellation: Coal River Valley Established: 2003
Elevation: 30m-100m
Soil Type: Dolerite & self-mulching black vertosols over sandstone Aspect: North Facing
Size: 6ha under vine
Growing Season:
2020 saw a dry start to the growing season with winter rainfall well below average. Cold and windy conditions during flowering resulted in smaller yields. Early summer saw a continuation of dry conditions but temperatures moderated significantly coupled with significant rainfall in late February and March freshened up canopies providing an ideal finish to the growing season.
Tasting Notes:
An elegant, lean chardonnay that highlights classic cool-climate characters of stonefruit, mineral and toasted almond. Rich undertones of toffee and buttered popcorn with a layered, lengthy finish on the palate.
Optimal Drinking: 2021 - 2030
Winefront Reviews by Campbell Mattinson
Posted on 12 January 2022
“Pooley’s tagline is: Three Generations – Two Vineyards – One Vision. Which is pretty good.
Gorgeous chardonnay. Custard apples and custard powder, lime and white peach, a touch of grapefruit and a perfect seasoning of spicy oak. Such drive, such precision, such length. This is outstanding.”
96 Points
2020 JRD Syrah
Varietal/s: Syrah
Alcohol: 12.6%
PH: 3.58
TA: 5.7 g/l
Yield: 4.5 tonnes/Hectare
Clone/s: R6WV28 (Tahbilk)
Baume: 12.3
Harvest Date: 16th April, 2020
Bottle Date: 28th June, 2021
Production: 632 bottles
Vinification:
15% whole bunch ferment included with destemmed berries. Fermentation (wild) for 10 days then pressed to French oak barriques 33% new for 14 months (Vallurine-Rhone, Medium Toast – Tight Grain – 36 months seasoning).
Viticulture:
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: 6ha under vine
Growing Season:
2020 saw a dry start to the growing season with winter rainfall well below average. Cold and windy conditions during flowering resulted in smaller yields. Early summer saw a continuation of dry conditions, but temperatures moderated significantly coupled with significant rainfall in late February and March freshened up canopies providing an ideal finish to the growing season.
Tasting Notes:
Crunchy notes of bramble, blueberries, violets, and a dusting of white pepper on the nose. A mouthwatering display of aniseed, red liquorice, tobacco leaf, and cocoa continuing on the palate. Brilliant tension, integrated tannins, and layered complexity. Simply wondrous.
Optimal Drinking: 2021 - 2040
2020 Jack Denis Pooley Pinot Noir
Varietal/s: Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 13.1%
PH: 3.63
TA: 5.3 g/l
Yield: 4.0 tonnes/Hectare
Clone/s: 114, 115
Baume: 12.7
Harvest Date: 23rd March, 2020
Bottle Date: 28th June, 2021
Production: 1056 bottles
Viticulture:
Vineyard: Cooinda Vale
Location: Campania, Tasmania
Appellation: Coal River Valley
Established: 1985
Elevation: 80m-100m
Soil Type: Sandy loams & sandy clay loam over impervious clay Aspect: North-East Facing
Size: 6ha under vine
Vinification:
33% whole bunch fermentation (wild) with the balance de-stemmed for 20 days. Pressed to 33% new French oak barriques (75% Cavin / 25% St. Martin, both medium toast, tight-grained) for 12 months.
Growing Season:
2020 saw a dry start to the growing season with winter rainfall well below average. Cold and windy conditions during flowering resulted in smaller yields. Early summer saw a continuation of dry conditions, but temperatures moderated significantly coupled with significant rainfall in late February and March freshened up canopies providing an ideal finish to the growing season.
Tasting Notes:
A symphonic display of perfume and florals with deeply enriching notes of violets, rosemary, aniseed, cedar and stewed strawberry on the nose. An innate tone of earth, port royal tobacco, fresh leather, and foraged mushrooms follow on the palate. There's a measured restraint to this wine with a crushed velvet texture, pitch-perfect acidity and endless joy on the finish.
Optimal Drinking: 2021 to 2035
2020 Margaret Pooley Tribute Riesling
Varietal/s: Riesling
Production: 2267 bottles
Alcohol: 12%
PH: 2.84
TA: 9.6 g/L
RS: 10 g/L
Vinification:
Cooinda Vale Riesling (old vines). Handpicked. Whole Bunch pressed and fermented in stainless steel. Inoculated fermentation. 5 months on fine lees prior to bottling.
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: 6ha under vine
Growing Season:
2020 saw a dry start to the growing season with winter rainfall well below average. Cold and windy conditions during flowering resulted in smaller yields. Early summer saw a continuation of dry conditions, but temperatures moderated significantly coupled with significant rainfall in late February and March freshened up canopies providing an ideal finish to the growing season.
Tasting Note:
"Very light straw-yellow hue, with a lemon curd aroma, lemon butter and baked lemon pudding. There is a background nuttiness that suggests some barrel involvement. The wine is intense and dry, very crisp and lively with vital acidity and tremendous power and persistence. Rich, concentrated flavour, delivered with finesse. A terrific young riesling. Most impressive."
Huon Hooke, The Real Review
97 Points
#1 Top Ranked 2020 Riesling in Australia, The Real Review
2020 Cooinda Vale Oronsay Pinot Noir
Varietal/s: Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 12.6%
PH: 3.62
TA: 5.6 g/l
Yield: 6.0 tonnes/Hectare
Clone: Pommard
Baume: 12.8
Harvest Date: 2nd April, 2020
Bottle Date: 28th June, 2021
Production: 1092 bottles
Viticulture:
Vineyard: Cooinda Vale
Location: Campania, Tasmania
Appellation: Coal River Valley
Established: 1985
Elevation: 80m-100m
Soil Type: Sandy loams & sandy clay loam over impervious clay Aspect: North-East Facing
Size: 6ha under vine
Vinification:
100% whole bunch fermentation (wild) for 20 days. Pressed to 50% new French oak barriques (50% Cavin / 50% St. Martin, both medium toast, tight-grained) for 14 months.
Growing Season:
2020 saw a dry start to the growing season with winter rainfall well below average. Cold and windy conditions during flowering resulted in smaller yields. Early summer saw a continuation of dry conditions, but temperatures moderated significantly coupled with significant rainfall in late February and March freshened up canopies providing an ideal finish to the growing season.
Tasting Notes:
An attractive aroma of cedarwood, kirsch, oakmoss, and warming spice on the nose. The palate is restrained with subtle notes of poached strawberry, dark cherry, earth and allspice continue. Understated tannin, bright acidity and incredibly finessed.
Optimal Drinking: 2021 - 2035
2020 Butcher's Hill Oronsay Pinot Noir
Varietal/s: Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 12.5%
PH: 3.58
TA: 5.5 g/l
Yield: 6.0 tonnes/Hectare
Baume: 12.4
Harvest Date: 23 March, 2020
Clone/s: MV6
Bottle Date: 21st June, 2021
Production: 1116 bottles
Viticulture:
Location: Butcher’s Hill, Richmond. Appellation: Coal River Valley Established: 2003
Elevation: 30m-100m
Soil Type: Dolerite & self-mulching black vertosols over sandstone Aspect: North Facing
Size: 6ha under vine
Vinification:
100% whole bunch fermentation (wild) for 20 days. Pressed to 50% new French oak barriques (50% Cavin / 50% St. Martin, both medium toast, tight-grained) for 14 months.
Growing Season:
2020 saw a dry start to the growing season with winter rainfall well below average. Cold and windy conditions during flowering resulted in smaller yields. Early summer saw a continuation of dry conditions, but temperatures moderated significantly coupled with significant rainfall in late February and March freshened up canopies providing an ideal finish to the growing season.
Tasting Notes:
Aromas of wild cherry, orange rind, and tobacco on the nose are complemented by an underlying savoury character, with notes of game, dried herb, aniseed, and dark cherry following on the palate. A lively acid profile, chalky yet ripened tannin, pronounced weight, and unlimited potential.
Optimal Drinking: 2021 - 2033.
(Photo: Pooley Website)