2023 Sailor Seeks Horse

Sailor Seeks Horse is a tiny vineyard that's one of Australia’s most southerly, located in the Huon valley in southern Tasmania. Owners Paul and Gilli Lipscombe have brought considerable vineyard and winemaking experience to this venture, and they've been producing outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay here for over a decade. Side gigs as contract winemakers, notably at Home Hill where they won the Jimmy Watson trophy in 2015, didn't hold them back from rejuvenating their home vineyard with a view to making the best wines possible. Numbers alone would indicate viticulture shouldn't work here, yet the north facing site that's sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly winds pushes the vines hard, with just enough rainfall and warmth to encourage ripening. With a deft understanding of when to interject and when to let the grapes speak for themselves, Paul and Gilli are a confident winemaking duo that are well on their way to their aim of producing Australia’s best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

In a recent tasting of every Sailor Seeks Horse wine made it was clear 2023 is a special release. Harmonious and filigreed, each of the wines offered are a glorious example of a special site and a winemaking team that truly understand what makes their vineyard tick and how best to emphasise its strengths. Stocks are very limited.