Dawson James Pinot Noir 2013 CONFIRM 2013 VINTAGE

Pinot Noir Hobart Tasmania
Peter Dawson and Tim James worked together at Hardy's for twenty years. Their Dawson and James label is as much about personal passion as it is about professionalism. Meadowbank single vineyard Pinot Noir is the realization of a long held ambition, also anticipated by industry peers, many of whom have been mentored by the two old hands. Their precious Meadowbank property on the banks of the Derwent makes a quality of Pinot that's highly articulate of it's provenance, tucked away in the cool and collected wilderness of the Tasmanian southeast.
Pinot Noir is hand picked after early season bunch thinning to achieve even ripeness and maturity, cropped to one bunch per shoot, aimed at bunch stalks and seeds that are lignified at a pleasingly low level of ripeness, positive flavour accumulation and bright acidity. A portion of whole bunches are retained and separately vinified, the balance is lightly crushed into a small open fermenter, vinified to natural yeasts and regularly hand plunged. Upon completion, the wine is run off, basket pressed and racked into a selection of Burgundian oak barriques. Following a short malolactic, components are rack and returned for a year's maturation, followed by barrel selection to determine the final assemblage.
Deep scarlet with strawberry hues. Aromas of sassafras, blueberries and game, wild strawberry, licorice and spice. A palate of appealing delicacy revealing finely woven flavours supported by fine French oak, an intensity of fruit character bound within a creamyness of puree textures. The fruit of vines celebrating their twenty first birthday, Dawson and James have captured the allure of truly pastoral Pinot Noir, another deliberate step along a never ending quest.
Dawson James
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Dawson James
Quality and innovation have always been the driving forces behind Peter Dawson and Tim James

The two friends met in Adelaide in 1976 when the Australian wine industry was going through tough times. Peter was a 21 year old science student from Geelong, Victoria, who'd just got his first job in the wine sector as a cellar hand at Thomas Hardy & Sons inner city Mile End winery, where Tim was the production winemaker. They struck up a remarkable friendship that has spanned three decades, and seen them work alongside each other for 20 years at Hardys before moving on in more recent times to new jobs and ventures. They have a collective winemaking experience of more than 60 years and their interest in wine runs much deeper than at career level.

Dawson James

Peter and Tim have now collaborated on a project that is as much about personal passion as it is about professionalism, Dawson and James Wines. The single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the results of a long held ambition. Peter and Tim's release of a wine has been much anticipated by their peers, who have over the decades benefited from the wisdom and guidance of these two old hands. The pair has represented the wine industry in various roles, including as winemakers, judges, educators, lobbyists and directors. They have both mentored another generation of winemakers who share their relentless search for quality, not just in the vineyard, but in oak, winemaking and bottling.

Peter Dawson and Tim James have a shared love of Australian art, farming, camping and gastronomy, and families and friends whose palates have benefited from their winemaking wisdom. Their association with vignerons Gerald and Sue extends over 16 years and their contribution as grape growers is integral to achieving quality endeavours.

Dawson and James fruit is grown on the Meadowbank vineyard, which is located approximately 60 kms north west of Hobart. Its rugged topography is bounded by the fast flowing, pristine waters of the Derwent river. Property owners Gerald and Sue Ellis established the first plantings in 1974 and the vineyard holds a special place in the history of Tasmanian viticulture.

Dawson James

The late Stephen Hickinbotham was early to recognise the potential of cool climate viticulture on the Meadowbank site, making Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling between 1981 and 1984. Plantings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were first made in 1987.

Vineyard patches selected for Dawson & James wines were planted in 1989 and vine age plays an important part in flavour development and the balance of the fruit. The vineyard site has an elevation of 70 metres above the river level and a north easterly aspect which attracts optimal sunlight to ripen the grapes. Soils range from brown loams to sandy loams over structured clays and sandstone rock. The soils are of a devigorating nature, contributing to balanced growth and good vine structure. Yields are managed to less than 6 tonnes per hectare with Pinot Noir managed to one bunch per shoot.

Dawson & James have always had high expectations and standards in terms of wine appreciation of wine, and have now pushed themselves to make two wines that hold their own with the best in the world. They took the highest quality grapes from a vineyard in Glenora, Tasmania, and with minimal tweaking, have let the grapes do the work. The great satisfaction for both men has been going back to a hands on, no compromise winemaking approach. Another deliberate step along a never ending quest.

Dawson James