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.”
2025 Riesling ‘TMV’
This wine is from Tasmania’s Tamar Valley (TMV). It starts at the south of Launceston and stretches 50km north where it meets the Bass Strait. With an abundance of aspects and microclimates, this wine is produced from two spots that give it a distinctive character. Three Wishes, planted in 1999 in Hillwood, is a warmer site, sheltered from the north and with the river flowing a few meters to its south. Add to that fruit sourced from two grower plots in Relbia, situated further south. The latter adds a zesty acid profile to balance the lush fruit and lifted aromatics from the former.
Winemaking
The fruit comes from three sites picked separately at optimum ripeness, right on the edge of the growing season. As expected, this Riesling is racey, super aromatic and flavoursome. Most of it was fermented at cool temperatures in tank, and some in barrel for an added textural element. The parcels spent extended time on lees before blending and bottling.
Tasting Note
Aromatic and textured, the wine lifts with perfume from the glass and has weight on the palate, tension and purity.
2024 Chardonnay ‘TMV’
Here’s a Chardonnay that captures the miscellany of microclimates and geographical contours of five sites throughout the Tamar Valley. Ricky stuck to classic winemaking techniques to express both his style and sub regionality. This is Chardonnay at its finest – there’s generosity from the partial malolactic fermentation and clean, lengthy acidity.
Winemaking
From what turned out to be a lovely year all around, albeit with small yields, as is the way in this part of the world. The majority of the fruit comes from Ricky’s farm, Woodlawn. The other smaller parcels coming from other sites build complexity in the blend. Some was picked earlier to preserve raciness and freshness, while the rest was picked later for fuller flavour development. All parcels were kept separate until spring. The wine went through partial oak maturation and light lees work in tank, combined with some malolactic fermentation, followed by final blending in December and a month on fine lees in tank before bottling.
Tasting Note
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.
2023 Pinot Noir ‘TMV’
Again, the Tamar Valley is the centre of attention. Produced from three of his own sites, plus two grower sites, Ricky’s intent with this wine is to reflect what he believes are the standout characteristics of the Tamar Valley sub region.
Optimum picking time results 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.
Winemaking
Ricky’s own vineyard produces the lion’s share. Relbia always seems to provide red fruits, racey acidity and brightness, while the other end of the valley produces more aromatic, spice driven characters. The homebase farm situated in the middle of the valley is showing a lovely mix of the two at this stage of its life. Miscellaneous pickings from varied sites, making sure clones are kept apart to show the best version of themselves. About 15% whole bunches were included to lift the nose and add structure. Everything was rested on lees till mid spring. The wine was finally assembled and put to rest in barrel without fining or filtration.
Tasting Note
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.”