Holyman Pinot. Something of a photo fail

Holyman Pinot Noir 2010 (Tamar Valley, Tas)
14%, Screwcap, $45
Source: Sample
www.stoneyrise.com

Joy Holyman is a thoughtful man. Thoughtful because not only does he send tasty wines, he also fills the final space up in his wine cartons with a can of Boags. Makes me yearn for Tassie when I see one of those red cans pop up in the box, plus wine tasting is thirsty business (a thirst that can only be quenched by beer) no matter what the weather.

Much like the beer, this is masculine wine too – looking firmer, tighter and darker this year, signalling its cellar-worthy intentions from the get-go. There is still that bright cherry/glace plum fruit but the nose in particular looks more contained and buttoned down this vintage, brooding even. The palate too is classically meaty with firm, grinding tannins, some nice animale cranberry stuffed
game sort of thing on the finish (now there is an esoteric turn. Cranberry stuffed game! Ugh).

A big, plum soaked Pinot – though not overrripe or OTT – with a firm structure, this is good masculine Tassie Pinot. I’d buy it (but leave it in the cellar a few more years).

Drink: 2014-2020
Score: 18.4/94+