Freycinet Vineyard – an amazing, but very large, wine tasting

A pioneer in the Tasmanian wine industry, Freycinet Vineyard is a beautiful visit while driving around the East Coast Wine Trail. We visited Freycinet Vineyard at the start of our adventure up the Great Eastern Drive. This post shares our wine tasting experience at Freycinet Vineyard.

Background

The East Coast Wine Region is on the eastern coast of Tasmania. It’s one of the states most scenic regions. From beautiful beaches to amazing stretches of vineyards you do not want for beautiful places to see and visit. There are around 22 vineyards producing almost 100 unique wines across this region. One of the warmest areas in Tasmania rainfall is low and indeed has seen a decline in the last many years.

Currently 1500 ha of land in Tasmania are under vine with the majority being white varietals and the remainder red. Approximately a 55% to 45% split. The focus in Tasmania is really on quality less so than quantity. Of note, just point one percent (0.1%) of Tasmanian wines are exported worldwide. The focus in Tasmania is on light bodied Pinot Noir’s; grapefruit flavoured Chardonnay’s; structured sparkling wines; and, refined and aromatic Rieslings.

Climate

Tasmania‘s cool maritime climate is the result of being cooled by prevailing winds off southern ocean. 

Freycinet Vineyard Wine Tasting

Walking us through the tasting was Valentina. New to this type of work, she did an admirable job and ensured any unanswered questions were addressed. Luke, one of the winemakers, drifted by our table, and we stole some of his time to chat about the French barrels that were being delivered at the same time we were there. We were also able to get a better understanding of what it takes to develop their wines.

Radenti Vintage Rose 2017

This sparkling is the result of encouraging the winemakers’s daughter, Lindy, and her partner Claudio Rente to try their hand at crafting a Tasmanian expression of sparkling wine. This is one of select, few grower producers, sparkling wines produced in Australia. The fruit is entirely sourced from a single vineyard, dedicated to the production of traditional method, sparkling wine This Rodante vintage sparkling rosé from 2017 is a recent release. It has beautiful aromas of Berry strawberry raspberry red apple and peach it undergoes 48 months of maturation. Dry, high, acidity, delicate, moose, measured complexity, balanced with its prolonged finish. This is a very good sparkling Wine.

2024 Freycinet Vineyard Riesling

Aromas of zesty citrus, lemon, lime, grapefruit, and floral notes. High acidity on the palate, and off dry. Additional notes of jasmine, honey and toast. A pronounced complexity and pronounced finish. An outstanding Riesling.

2024 Wineglass Bay Sauvignon Blanc

This Sauvignon Blanc is produced from 38-year-old vines. It is hand-pruned and hand-harvested! A pale yellow white wine. The aroma was intense with notes of gooseberry, lemon, and melon. On the palate, pronounced complexity, texture and creaminess, likely due to 40% of the wine being fermented in French barriques and a smaller percentage of new oak. A very different kind of Sauvignon Blanc! Additional notes on the palate included wet stone and honeydew. A very easy to drink white wine for a warm summer day – a very good Sauvignon Blanc.

2023 Freycinet Vineyard Chardonnay 

A medium yellow white wine. Aromas of melon, lemon, and vanilla. On the palate, more brioche and greater mouth feel. 25% is aged in French oak and the comes through in the complexity of the palate. In addition to brioche, the melon and lemon flavours balance out as dry with high acidity. A medium + complexity and medium + finish. Very good, well balanced Chardonnay.

2023 Freycinet Vineyard Field Blend Rose

This Rose is summer and sunshine in a bottle! Aromas of strawberry, cream, and lemon. On the palate, the same flavours with a dry, crisp acidity – just enough to be refreshing, and not cloying at all. A great Rose to enjoy at a BBQ!

2023 Freycinet Vineyard Pinot Noir

This Pinot Noir was derived from a 46 yr old vine. A recent release from Freycinet, it is anticipated that this wine could age 15-20 years. More oak aging was completed on this Pinot Noir. A medium ruby red wine. Aromas of pepper, red cherry and raspberry along with blackberry. On the palate, added notes of vanilla, toast and hints of tobacco. Dry, medium acidity with fresh fruit flavours, this is definitely in the early cycle of its aging. Pronounced flavour, complexity and finish. A very good (bordering on outstanding) Pinot Noir.

2019 Freycinet Vineyard Syrah

A deep purple red wine. Aromas of white pepper, toast, blackberry and black cherry. On the palate added notes of cedar and forest floor. Aged in French oak, medium + acidity and dry on the palate. Medium + complexity and medium + finish with balanced high tannins. A very good Syrah.

2019 Freycinet Vineyard Cabernet Merlot

This deep ruby red wine is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Interesting aromas of fruit – not exactly black berries, more blackcurrant and liquorice. On the palate, a dry, high acidity, high tannin red with additional notes of olives. This red blend could easily age till 2035 according to the tasting notes! A pronounced complexity, well balanced and pronounced finish – a very good Cabernet Merlot.

Summary of Wine Tasting at Freycinet Vineyards

Overall this wine tasting was superlative! A lovely day enjoying tasting of a variety of very good to outstanding wines. Our only feedback would be that the size of the tasting was large, and it was drawn out. We were there for a good 1.25 to 1.5 hours and would have benefited from some nibbles with the tasting. Wouldn’t need necessarily a large cheese tray but some crackers and a little cheese would have been helpful to complement the wines.

Highly recommend checking out Freycinet Vineyards!

For more wine tasting notes check out our link!