Holm Oak The Wizard Pinot Noir 2022

"A pinot of uncommon power, structure and ageworthiness."  Huon Hooke
"A mighty impressive wine."  Ray Jordan

Holm Oak is located just north of Launceston, in Tasmania's Tamar Valley. Holm Oak is a labour of love for winemaker Bec Duffy and her viticulturist husband Tim Duffy, Since 2007 they have followed their dream of crafting delicious expressions of cool-climate Tasmanian wines. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling are outstanding.

"A powerfully framed Pinot, it’s a wine that is plush and structured with the use of 30% whole bunches adding further to the tight firmish core. Loads of dark fruit characters wrap themselves around the firm tannin and oak while the intense dark plummy dark cherry flavours emerge. A light savoury element adds further. A mighty impressive wine."  Ray Jordan

"Inviting ruby red in colour, this robust Pinot Noir presents the aromas of dark cherries, plums and floral undertones along with complex French oak. This continues through to the palate where the full power of this young wine becomes apparent. A masculine pinot with overt fruit, structural tannin, good acid and spicy oak – all vying for your attention. While impressive now and capable of standing up to any steak, the Wizard is designed to age for 10+ years. Over time, the flavours and aromas will coalesce into a symphony of
elegance and refinement. 

Although we take a low input approach with all our wines, the approach to making this wine was for minimal intervention. This wine is slowly evolving to include more of the new clones of Pinot that we have planted over the past 10 years. As in previous vintages, in 2022 the percentage of MV6 and D4V2 dominate the blend. These two clones provide structure and complexity; whilst 115 and 777 add plushness, aromatics and elegance. 30% whole bunch was included in the ferments which were done in small open top fermenters. "  Holm Oak   

Expert reviews

"Full ruby with the merest trace of purple; smoky barrel aromas overlying black cherry and a metallic/crushed-rock whiff, the palate adding firm focus to the tensioned fruit flavour. The wine is intense and has some appealing richness, ample tannins adding density and structure. A pinot of uncommon power, structure and ageworthiness. Drink: 2024-2038."  Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 96 points

"There's 30% whole bunches in the mix here and it comes across as a more complex, textural wine than the 'house' pinot noir. Some darker cherry in the mix, wild strawberry and raspberry coulis, too, with an understory of spice, amaro herbs, dried citrus rind, gamey tones and a dose of earthiness. It's got a lovely minerally palate presence, tannins powdery and compact, the tail long, slender and lingering with spice, stone and red fruits. Drink: 2024-2036."  Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion - 95 points

"A structured and powerfully framed Pinot that in many ways is still a work in progress. More and more new clones planted over the past decade are making their way into the final blend. It’s a wine that is plush and structured with the use of 30% whole bunches adding further to the tight firmish core. Loads of dark fruit characters wrap themselves around the firm tannin and oak while the intense dark plummy dark cherry flavours emerge. A light savoury element adds further. A mighty impressive wine. Drink: 2024-2036."  Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot - 95 points

About the winery

Holm Oak is located just north of Launceston, in Tasmania's Tamar Valley. Holm Oak is a labour of love for winemaker Bec Duffy and her husband Tim Duffy, viticulturalist. Since 2007 they have followed their dream of crafting delicious expressions of cool-climate Tasmanian wines.

Bec Duffy has over 20 years winemaking experience in Australia and the US, while Tim Duffy, a third-generation grape grower and an agronomist with extensive viticultural experience, manages the vineyard, Their complementary skills drive their vision to produce delicious wines that reflect their home, Tasmania's pristine Tamar Valley, and their own personalities – honest, down to earth, genuine and authentic. 

Grape vines were planted in the rich and fertile land in 1983, making Holm Oak one of the older vineyards in Tasmania. Using the original Pinot Noir and Cabernet plantings, they now also cultivate Arneis, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. In total, Holm Oak has 12 hectares under vine.

Holm Oak is a full family affair overseen by general manager Pinot 'd' Pig. Like any good manager, Pinot the Pig wanders around keeping a close eye on the daily operations in the vineyards and winery. Pinot was supposed to be a miniature pig, however has grown to be a full-size team member, with a larger than life personality, and a keen eye (and nose) for detail. Every good manager however, has a weakness – if fed a couple of fresh apples, the worries of General Management fade away and Pinot is inclined to sleep on the job!

"Holm Oak in Tasmania's Tamar Valley gained its name from a planting of oak trees in the 1930s, intended to provide oak for tennis racquets. It came to nothing, and 50 years later 2ha of cabernet sauvignon and 0.4ha of pinot noir were planted.

In 2004 Ian and Robyn Wilson bought the property with a succession plan in place, their daughter Rebecca (Bec) already an experienced winemaker having worked on the mainland and in California. She arrived at Holm Oak in 2006, and the onsite winery was completed just in time for the 2007 vintage.

In the same year Bec's partner, agronomist Tim Duffy, arrived and they set about expanding the vineyard from 6a to 15ha; in pride of place is 7ha of pinot noir, with MV6 clone leading the census, plus D5V12, 114, 115, 777, D4V2 and 521. In 1991, 1ha of riesling had been planted; the balance now includes pinot gris (2ha), chardonnay (1.5ha) and arneis (0.3ha), with smaller plantings making up the remainder.

Prior to the completion of the winery, the wines had been competently contract-made. It's a very different story today, with shoot thinning, leaf plucking (on the western side) and removal of shoulder bunches of pinot noir (if needed). The partnership between winemaker and viticulturist has had multiple synergies, as success has followed success. Then there's the Southern Ocean, a vast air conditioner buffering the heat spikes that are part of summer in the southeastern corner of the mainland.

Sparkling wine used 37% of the total crush, which left pinot noir with 28%, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and pinot gris in a three-way share of 8% each, riesling the remainder. One simple summary is sparkling, red and white wine, each with a third share. And Tamar Valley is the place to be, with almost 40% of the 2022 crush." James Halliday