DALRYMPLE

(2 customer reviews)

The winemaker

Founded in 1987 by Bertel and Anne Sundstrup, Dalrymple occupies 12.3 hectares on the eastern slopes of the Tamar Valley in northern Tasmania. At the end of 2007, the brand and vineyard were acquired by Hill-Smith Family Vineyards, and the wines were made at Jansz Tasmania. In 2010, Peter Caldwell was appointed vineyard, viticulture and winemaking manager, bringing with him a passion for the Australian wine industry and an enthusiasm for Pinot Noir. The small island state of Tasmania is Australia's southernmost point and is renowned for its pristine valleys, forests, rivers and streams. Dalrymple's vineyard plots straddle the Pipers River and lie in the lee of an extinct volcano at an altitude of 100 to 160 meters. The vines are 25 to 30 years old and are planted on 10m-deep basalt soil with excellent drainage to avoid spring waterlogging, keeping the vines relatively balanced. The proximity of the Bass Strait creates a maritime microclimate in the Tamar Valley, resulting in even ripeness. With an average annual rainfall of 663 mm, the fruit is watered by nature alone, with only a few plots requiring irrigation. Surrounded by bare, windswept hills, Tamar Valley has gentle slopes and winds. The vineyards enjoy a climate similar to that of Burgundy. The wines are all aged in French oak barrels from 12 different coopers. The wines feature intense flavors with natural acidity, fine tannins that structure the wine and offer a long finish. Each bunch of grapes undergoes expert inspection to ensure that only those with no defects are kept. Wines from the fresh terroirs of this human-scale estate are among the most distinguished in Australia.