Tassie does it again…

James Bresnehan at Bremley Vineyard. Image courtesy The Australian Pinot Noir Challenge

Tasmanian winery Bremley Vineyard has claimed the top honour at Australia’s premier Pinot Noir competition, the 2024 Pinot Noir Challenge, marking the fifth consecutive year a Tasmanian winery has taken the top spot. The award was announced at a gala dinner held at Cutler & Co in Melbourne on Wednesday night.

Led by winemaker and Pinot Noir enthusiast Tom Carson, a judging panel deliberated over more than 300 entries. Following the selection of a regional winner, the panel said choosing the ultimate prize was a difficult decision.

“While the 2023 Bremley Pinot Noir from the Coal River came out on top, it was a tight competition for first place, with the Yarra Valley’s 2023 Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir an extremely close second, requiring lengthy deliberations from the judges to finalise the winner,” Carson said.

Yarra Valley winery Giant Steps gretaly impressed the panel, with all four of its entries earning gold medals, as well as a regional trophy. Meanwhile, Western Australia, with only 10 entries, showcased its growing potential by scoring two golds from different regions, confirming the potential that devoted producers in the west have long believed in.

“The 2023 Bremley Coal River Pinot Noir is a beautifully crafted wine, combining power and elegance with the silkiest of tannins and a refined finish that lingers endlessly,” Carson continued. “In fact, the Coal River region dominated the state of Tasmania and the awards in general. The region is flexing its Pinot Noir muscle in wine shows, and as the vines age and viticulturists and winemakers continue to hone their craft, there’s no sign of this momentum slowing anytime soon.”

Bremley Vineyard, located in Tasmania’s Coal River Valley, is the northernmost vineyard in the region which is part of what makes it unique.

“We are right at the top of the Coal Valley,” said James Bresnehan, who owns the property with his partner Vanessa. “The vineyard is situated on an elevated site in a natural amphitheater, protecting the vines from the hot northwesterly winds of summer. This, along with the black cracking clay intertwined with dolerite rock, is what makes it so unique.”

When James and Vanessa Bresnehan purchased the property in 2008, it consisted of just two hectares of Chardonnay. Since then, they’ve expanded their plantings to include Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, and Gamay.

“We were blown away to get the call for this award,” said James Bresnehan. ” Since 2008, we’ve been developing the vineyard with a hands-on and sustainable approach. We’ve predominantly sold fruit to other producers, including Penfolds for its well-known Yattarna label. We knew the fruit was exceptional, and the desire to create iconic single-vineyard wines grew stronger. That opportunity finally came in 2021 when we teamed up with acclaimed winemakers Justin Bubb and Anna Pooley.”

Chair of the Pinot Challenge, Lindsay McCall, praised the achievement, and said the win “exemplifies the world-class quality of Pinot Noir coming from Tasmania”.

“Australia is widely recognised for producing premium Pinot Noir, particularly from our cool-climate regions,” added McCall.

“The Pinot Noir Challenge celebrates the complexity and elegance of this variety. It also highlights the incredible wines from all regions and showcases the ethereal nature of this captivating and complex grape, which has earned its place as one of the world’s most exclusive and expensive wines.”

The regional winners were: