Ghost Rock Estate Pinot Noir 2024

Variety: 100 % Pinot Noir
Country, Region: Australia, Tasmania

100 % Pinot Noir predominately from the La Filles, Oulton, and Bonadale blocks, which have been the same sites producing the single vineyard selections over the past few seasons. A blend of eight clones including ones from California, Dijon, Australia and New Zealand. The ferments were predominantly wild ferments with some batches seeing a few days cold-soak. All ferments were hand-plunged twice daily. Matured in 35 % new French oak barriques for 11 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, so vegan friendly.

The 2023 vintage cleaned up at the 35th Tasmanian Wine Show:
AP Johns Coopers Trophy - Best Pinot Noir.
Wine Tasmania Trophy - Champion Wine of Show.

’A bright and vibrant nose of ripe red cherry, raspberry and wild bramble, layers of delicate spice in the background, nutmeg and pepper. Lovely acid line and fine, silky tannins. The palate is showing a lot of youthfulness and potential for longevity for years to come.’ Justin Arnold, Winemaker.

'2024 will be remembered as a vintage of distinction, with fabulous growing conditions that yielded fruit of superb quality. The climate during the spring and summer was notably warmer and dryer than previous years. This pattern we had not seen since 2019, which was also a year that made exceptional wines that are still holing up today. The wines from 2024 will be celebrated for having considerable character, intensity, and a great deal of potential.' Justin Arnold, Winemaker.

'In ‘01, Cate and Colin Arnold purchased the former Patrick Creek Vineyard planted exclusively to pinot noir in 1989. The vineyards, situated among the patchwork fields of Sassafras to the south and the white sands of the Port Sorell Peninsula to the north, now total 30ha: pinot noir (14 clones) remains the bedrock of the plantings, with other varieties including chardonnay, pinot gris, riesling and sauvignon blanc. Ownership has passed to son Justin and his wife Alicia (who runs the cooking school and cellar door). Justin’s experience in the Yarra Valley (Coldstream Hills), Margaret River (Devil’s Lair) and Napa Valley (Etude) has paid dividends – the business is going from strength to strength, and the capacity of the 100t winery has been tripled. Exports to Japan.' James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion.

Established in 1999, Ghost Rock came to life when Colin and Cate Arnold purchased the Patrick's Creek vineyard (planted in 1989) at Northdown, just outside Devonport in Northern Tasmania. Here, just a few minutes from where the Spirit of Tasmania ferry docks and but an hour's drive from Cradle Mountain, the vineyards enjoy a maritime climate overlooking Bass Strait, producing immaculately ripened fruit of particular freshness and complexity.

Over the ensuing 20-odd years the Arnold family would continue planting out additional vineyards, substantially with Pinot Noir (and a good dozen different clones at that!), but also with Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris and a little Sauvignon Blanc. And before they knew it, they had almost single-handedly created the wine region now dubbed Tasmania's Cradle Coast.

In 2017 Colin and Cate's son Justin and his wife Alicia Peardon took over the business and have continued to turn out new and exciting wines, earning 5-star recognition from the Halliday Wine Companion, amongst many other accolades. Justin takes care of the winemaking, having honed his skills at Coldstream Hills, Devil's Lair and at Etude in California's Carneros Creek, whilst Alicia manages the Cellar Door and Eatery.

Today the wines fall into three ranges: the Estate and Single Vineyard wines are self-explanatory, whilst the Supernatural wines make up Ghost Rock's 'Lo-Fi' range. Or as Justin has put it,

'Creativity and deliciousness rule the roost within this portfolio, bound to one rule only; high quality, estate-grown fruit as the source component. The rest is in the imagination and the craft. The range follows a ‘LoFi’ mantra of being wild ferment driven and exclusively unfined/unfiltered/low SO2.'