94 points - "This one has some mojo and get up and go. It’s reeks of yesterdays shots of Fernet with dashes of black cherry and blood plum. The palate is dry, sinewy, shaped with fine, firm tannin that does that stuff, dark cherry fruited, more red wine vermouth in the spice and herb department, finishes smoky. Such a curious and cool wine, compelling in its drinking and out of the box. I’m into it." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

94 points - "Influenced by the surrounding mountains, the Waverley vineyard is located just to the east of Launceston in the Tamar Valley, and there is a sense of clarity and energy here that suggests that the terroir is in play. Savoury, crunchy red cherry and red plum fruits daubed with hints of spice, poached rhubarb, undergrowth, dried meats and earth. Tautly-stretched sour cherry fruits on the palate, toothsome, pillowy tannins, and a briny acid drivetrain that pulls everything into line nicely, finishing long and true." - Dave Brookes Halliday Wine Companion)

94 points - "Fruit takes a back seat here, giving the wine a Burgundian sensibility – savoury complexity, graceful restraint, and lovely evenness through a long, poised finish. Restrained notes of dark cherry, raspberry, nutmeg, and cassia lead the way, followed by damp earth and forest floor. A swirl unlocks a bloom of deep red florals along with subtly sweet glimmers of clove and black tea leaf. There’s a velvety, autumnal feel to the aromatics that draws you in. The palate echoes the nose’s savoury tone – cherry and plum fruits melding into autumn leaves, damp earth, and forest floor. Tannins are silky yet firm, lending shape and constriction, guiding the wine with precision through a long, composed finish. A beautiful release." - Tom Kline (Wine Pilot)

93 points - "The 2023 Waverley Vineyard Pinot Noir leads with cocoa and soft aged leather, dried rose petals, cranberry, blood plum and graphite. The tannins on the palate feel more akin to those of cold tea, and they drag the delicate fruit characters out over the long finish. This is a lovely, complex, quiet wine. 13% alcohol, sealed under Diam and wax." - Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)

Waverley is situated just to the east of Launceston, with a little bit of elevation, it is more influenced by the surrounding mountains, rather than the Tamar River.
This vineyard was planted in 2005, and we have farmed out ourselves since 2015. At the time, the owner had stepped away, and the vineyard was derelict. Naively, I went and knocked on the door of the owner, convincing him to let me take it on.

A super low yielding site, there is three clones here, Dijon 114 & 115 and an unknown late ripening one with high acidity. Such a small parcel we pick the 114 & 115 together, leaving behind 6 rows of the mystery pinot for another week or so. The former of the picks sees a good portion of whole bunch, whilst the latter is all destemmed. The final blend is around 30% inclusion, 11 months in french oak, mostly second & third fill.