Two Tonne Tasmania
Tamar Valley, Tasmania
Born and bred on the scenic island of Tasmania, Ricky wouldn’t want to make wine anywhere else. His star has risen rapidly since he launched his own label in 2013, and these days his wines are hot property.
Operations are a little bigger now, with Ricky handling much more than that initial two tonnes of fruit, but his ethos remains the same: “Small parcels, big love”.
“I put a lot of thought and care into small parcels of fruit to make more complete and complex wines,” says Ricky. “I like to spend a lot of time in the vineyard and pick out bits that are going to shine in particular ways.”
Ricky’s award-winning wines reflect the pristine island they come from: pure, fresh and vibrant. Pinot Noir is his signature offering, notoriously challenging to make, and it sits alongside others including Riesling, Chardonnay and some exciting blends.
“I want flavour... I want the wines to be generous and people to feel that they’ve really got something out of them,” says Ricky. “But purity is first and foremost what I’m trying to find.”
It’s a quality that defines Tasmanian wine more broadly, and Ricky is passionate about contributing to the wine community and encouraging the rest of the world to discover this unique region.
“I’ve spent a lot of time away, and I’m excited to get away, but I’m more excited when I’m coming home,” he says. “Tasmania is incredibly diverse. My vineyard here is very different to another one of my vineyards which is 10 minutes away, and that’s just within a very small area.”
Ricky believes the island has what it takes to become one of the great wine regions of the world.
“I hope part of my role, being a younger person in the industry down here, is to help Tasmania reach its potential.”
2022 Riesling ‘TMV’
This wine is from Tasmania’s Tamar Valley (TMV). Beginning just south of Launceston the valley winds 50km north to its meeting point with the powerful Bass Strait. With an endless number of aspects and micro climates, this wine is produced from two spots. Three Wishes, planted in 1999 is at Hillwood is a warmer site, protected from the north, and the river is just to the south, just a few hundred metres away. To compliment, fruit from two little plots from growers in Relbia, much further south, with a zesty acid profile these balance the lush fruit and lifted aromatics from the Three Wishes vineyard.
Tasting Notes:
Aromatic and textured, the wine lifts with perfume from the glass and has weight on the palate, tension and purity.
2022 Chardonnay ‘TMV’
With an endless number of aspects and micro climates, the wine is produced from five sites from throughout the Tamar Valley. These sites together express what he loves most about chardonnay from this Tasmanian sub region.
Winemaking:
Picked right on time, the palate is fresh, yet generous. The wine went through partial malolactic fermentation, and the acid is pure and long.
Tasting Notes:
Ripe and generous fruit is joined by a fantastic line of acid and a hint of a ‘sea spray’ character, meaning this wine is light on its feet while still displaying some beautiful ripe peach, lemon curd and melon flavours.
2022 Pinot Noir ‘TMV’
This wine is from Tasmania’s Tamar Valley (TMV). Beginning just south of Launceston the valley winds 50km north to its meeting point with the powerful Bass Strait. The intent with this wine is to reflect what he believes are the standout characteristics of the Tamar Valley sub region.
Winemaking:
This is produced from all four of their own sites, plus two dedicated growers, it is a true representation of the valley.
Tasting Notes:
We pick each vineyard at the right time, resulting in a juicy and vibrant pinot noir that expresses red fruits and spice. There is softness within its warm heart, it leaves you with a trail of freshness and closes with strawberry seed-like tannin. 93+ pts. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
2022 Chardonnay ‘Three Wishes Vineyard’
Situated just north of Hillwood on the eastern bank of the Tamar River, this is a beautiful and unique site, planted in 2000.
Protected from the northerly winds of bass strait, the vineyard sits in a small valley, facing north/north east, it is a warm site, also influenced by the river which lies a few hundred metres to the south.
This bright and sunny microclimate produces a fuller style of chardonnay, richer in its expression, full of flavour, whilst maintaining the natural acidity to match its weight.There is two clones of pinot in this vineyard. One of the upright clones occupy the majority of the block, very common in the Tamar, and a small section of MV6, which has much smaller berries and compact bunches.. Vine age and yield management allow us to find the greatest potential in the upright clone, whilst MV6 is super low yielding and packs a heap of flavour and structure.
Winemaking:
Fermented in a mix of new and second use 500L puncheons, it spent 11 months in barrels prior to 3 months resting on light lees in tank. All of our single vineyard releases are 100% farmed, vinified & bottled by Ricky Evans and our small team at Woodlawn, our family farm - where we make our wine, and is home to our largest vineyard.
Tasting Notes:
It’s a fully flavoured yet bright expression of Chardonnay, with fresh natural acidity and a beautiful texture thanks to the time spent resting on its lees in tank. Quality from first to last sip.
2022 Chardonnay ‘Waverley Vineyard’
Waverley is situated just to the east of Launceston, with a little bit of elevation, it is more influenced by the surrounding mountains, rather than the Tamar River. This vineyard was planted in 2005, and Ricky and his family have farmed it out themselves since 2015. At the time, the owner had stepped away, and the vineyard was derelict. Naively, he went and knocked on the door of the owner, convincing him to let them take it on. Five years later they were still sorting it out, and producing very light crops, but always super quality.
This has always been the more pure fruited component of the Dog & Wolf, the site seems to hold its acidity, and the wines are lacy and bright with line and length. There is two clones of pinot in this vineyard. One of the upright clones occupy the majority of the block, very common in the Tamar, and a small section of MV6, which has much smaller berries and compact bunches. Vine age and yield management allow us to find the greatest potential in the upright clone, whilst MV6 is super low yielding and packs a heap of flavour and structure.
Winemaking:
Fermented in second use 500L puncheons, a touch of MLF, it spent 10 months in barrel before being transferred to tank to rest on light lees for a further 4 months.
Tasting Notes:
NA
2022 Pinot Noir ‘Three Wishes Vineyard’
Situated just north of Hillwood on the eastern bank of the Tamar River, this is a beautiful and unique site, planted in 2000. Protected from the northerly winds of bass strait, the vineyard sits in a small valley, facing north/north east, it is a warm site, also influenced by the river which lies a few hundred metres to the south.
Two clones of Pinot Noir are planted there. One of the upright clones occupy the majority of the block, very common in the Tamar, and a small section of MV6, which has much smaller berries and compact bunches. Vine age and yield management allow Ricky to find the greatest potential in the upright clone, whilst MV6 is super low yielding and packs a heap of flavour and structure.
Winemaking:
These were both picked and fermented together, the MV6 provided the 30% whole bunches that give this wine structure and spice. It was matured in mostly second use barriques for 11 months, bottled without fining or filtration.
Tasting Notes:
Of the two single vineyard Woodlawn wines, the Three Wishes Vineyard is a deeper, wilder expression of Tassie Pinot. A nice whack of whole bunches in the ferment gives the wine great structure and spice and overall it is packed with great intensity and flavour.
2024 Pinot Noir ‘Waverley Vineyard’
Waverley is situated just to the east of Launceston, with a little bit of elevation, it is more influenced by the surrounding mountains, rather than the Tamar River.
This vineyard was planted in 2005, and they have farmed out ourselves since 2015. At the time, the owner had stepped away, and the vineyard was derelict. Naively, Ricky went and knocked on the door of the owner, convincing him to let him take it on. Three clones of pinot were planted in this little vineyard, 114 & 115 make the majority of the harvest, and an unknown patch in the middle ripens much later.
Winemaking:
Super low yielding, around 2T/ha, it produces perfect, small bunches with heaps of flavour and natural acidity. 30% whole clusters in the ferment, this was pressed off nice and early to finish in barriques, a little bit of new oak, balance to second use. It spent 11 months in barrel, and is bottled without fining or filtration.
Tasting Notes:
NA