Bob McDonald

9.5

Top flight Tasmanian Chardonnay from Tolpuddle in the Coal River made and owned by Shaw and Smith. A logistical challenge shipping the grapes from Tasmania to the Adelaide Hills in refrigerated containers to Shaw and Smith HQ where the grapes are crushed and vinified. Initially the wine is lean when tasting - perhaps a little young. Lemon and grapefruit fruit notes and barrel ferment characters with a 10 year life ahead. My first of 3. The next in 3 to 5 years by which time I expect more stone fruit textures to be apparent. 98 points from Huon Hooke. — 12 days ago

Sonia Ross

9.5

February 2025 dinner, paired with pan-seared salmon. 2020 vintage. — 8 months ago

Simon Laracy

10

2020
Lighter Pinot round flavors very drinkable — 3 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

Light ruby dress. Red fruits, cranberry, cherry. Alcohol 12 abv. Slightly smoked, mineral, undergrowth, coal. Sweet spices, cloves, black cardamom, cola. A PN that transcribes with purity and simplicity an altitude terroir with chalky basements expressing itself here in the form of a lively and sharp acidity with many facets, recalling in some aspects the Pinots-Noirs of Alsace. Simple, sincere, nuanced profile type "old world" very good quality/price ratio. To drink a little refreshed.

Robe rubis légère. Fruits rouges, canneberge, cerise. Alcool 12o. Légèrement fumé, minéral, sous-bois, charbon. Épices douces, girofle, cardamome noire, cola. Un PN qui transcrit avec pureté et simplicité un terroir d’altitude aux sous-sols crayeux s’exprimant ici sous la forme d’une acidité vive et tranchante aux multiples facettes, rappelant par certains aspects les Pinots-Noirs d’Alsace. Simple, sincère, profil nuancé type “ancien monde” très bon rapport qualité/prix. À boire un peu rafraîchi. — 3 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.4

Consistently exceptional
You truly need a bottle of this wine at reach always.
Easy drinking, but also deep
This is telling me that Tasmanian Pinot can definitely be considered super seriously at a world level. They have set a style and the bar is quite high. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Aromas of red and black fruits, violets and mulchy Sous Bois. Coal River Valley - close to the Vosne Romanee of Tasmania IMO. Sweet, savoury and intense - more raspberry and black cherry than beetroot. Easy to like - see previous note about a year ago. Had another bottle 20 weeks later on 11th November 2023 with similar tasting notes. Had my last bottle in late December 2024 with consistent notes. An excellent Tasmanian Pinot Noir. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

See previous notes - sadly my last bottle of the 2013. A wonderful Pinot Noir. Along with the red fruits and lovely perfume a distinctly earthy note. The medium bodied palate is polished, fine and long. Owned and made by Shaw + Smith who are based in the Adelaide Hills and transport the grapes from this exceptional terroir in the Coal River Tasmania in refrigerated containers to be vinified in the Adelaide Hills. Quite a daunting exercise but on the evidence of this wine - an absolute triumph. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

My 2nd last 2018 Pooley Pinot Noir. Pale Ruby in colour, tawny shades almost transparent. The colour appears to have become paler with age - a characteristic I haven’t seen before. On the palate evidence of whole bunch in the ferment - herbal, stalky amid the red fruits. The pale colour belies the palate intensity. Coal River is becoming part of Tasmanian Pinot Royalty. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

See previous note for this 2017 vintage 143 weeks ago. An impressive Coal River Pinot from Tasmania. Still showing those aromatic red fruits on this very pretty nose. Just the right amount of whole bunch used in the ferment. Pooley Pinot should be an annual purchase. — 7 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Very identifiable as Tasmanian Pinot - this one from the Coal River and the high performing Pooley Wines. Last tasting note here was way back 153 weeks ago. Red fruited - drinking this early in its drinking window. Light to medium weight - lovely Tassie purity. Fine tannins. — 2 years ago