2022 Vignerons Schmolzer & Brown Pret-a-Rouge

Vignerons Schmölzer & Brown is the partnership of winemaker-viticulturist Tessa Brown and architect Jeremy Schmölzer, crafting wines from high-altitude vineyards in Beechworth and the King Valley. Their estate vineyard, Thorley, sits over 700m ASL and is farmed with organic practices in all but the most challenging years. Working with minimal intervention, they focus on purity, balance, and drinkability. The range includes single-site wines from Thorley, Brunnen, and Obstgarten, as well as their approachable Prêt-à series.

A vibrant blend of Beechworth Shiraz (50%), Pinot Noir (40%), and Sangiovese (10) from organically managed vineyards. The cooler, wetter 2022 vintage has delivered a delicately framed wine layered with macerated strawberry, blueberry, and cherry, accented by savoury herbs. Supple and succulent yet true to Beechworth’s structural pedigree, it offers an earlier-drinking style with depth, savoury complexity, and satisfying length.
Alc. 13%

Other Reviews....
Nutty, dry, a bit mineral, blue fruit, dried cherry, roasted beetroot, leather and a subtle minty perfume. Light to medium-bodied, kind of firm, but supple too, with a spicy savoury almost walnutty finish of good length and gentle sappy amaro twang. Quite Italianate I think and very good to drink. Understated, but fun, albeit in a sort of serious/intelligent way. Drink 2024 - 2030.
92 Points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

A blend of Syrah, Pinot Noir and a small amount of Sangiovese. A subdued wine to start, but it opens up beautifully with berry fruits and emergent spice. Macerated strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, cherry, dried herbs, twigginess, earth, a lick of minerality and a glimmer of walnut. A nice mix of fruit and savoury, particularly at this price point. The palate has a sweet burst of fruit – cherry and blueberry leading the charge, before damp leaf, oregano and some red apple skin tang. The tannins are chalky and energetic. This is delicious drinking, and a steal at $35.
92 Points
Tom Kline - WinePilot.com