Stoney Rise Savagnin (2021)
750mL / Tasmania / Australia / Tamar Valley
Tasting Notes:
"Super exciting release! Tiny, tiny quantity. In vintage 2021, Joe made two Savagnins. One he released early, aka 2021 Stoney Rise Savagnin, and the other he held back in old oak for 18 months.
A more traditional style of Jura Savagnin.
There are some oxidative sherry like aromas, but they are balanced by some roasted almond and a hint of honey.
The palate is long and quite powerful. There is some lemon essence and some cumquat / marmalade characters.
The acidity is still persistent and gives the wine an almost saline like finish."
Lou & Joe Holyman
About Stoney Rise Estate
Dream team and husband and wife duo, Lou and Joe Holyman, are paving the way down at the Apple Isle.
Narrowly missing a career in cricket, Joe studied wine marketing in Adelaide before launching into a very hearty wine career including vintages in Burgundy and the Douro.
Both Joe and Lou worked at Cape Jaffa Wines in Robe, South Australia on different ends of the business, and launched Stoney Rise together at the start of the millennia. After a few years in Robe, they eventually moved to a 20-
year-old vineyard on the Tamar, a place they quite literally call home. "We don’t use herbicides, we don't add anything other than sulphur. It's about reducing." Joe says in an interview with WBM. "I'm looking at the vineyard now from our loungeroom and it's 15 metres away. Lou and I have three young kids – we don't need to be out there throwing chemicals around."
With this mentality, Stoney Rise has quickly gained recognition as one of the most influential wineries in their region.
Situated on the foothills of Mount Arthur, in the heart of the Tamar Valley in Northern Tasmania, Stoney Rise has been growing and producing the best wines to showcase the unique terroir of their 1986-planted vineyard (formally known as the ‘Rotherhythe Vineyard’). A family-owned and operated vineyard, Stoney Rise specialises in small-batch production, allowing for greater control over the quality and flavour of the wines.
The region benefits from the cool climate of the Valley, ideal for growing premium quality grapes. With a focus on sustainable farming and minimal intervention, the Holymans have allowed the natural characteristics and flavours of the vineyard do the work. These are truly artisanal wines and as such the selection released varies from year to year depending on what the growing season throws at the Tamar.