2025 William Downie Tolmie Pinot Noir
2025 William Downie Tolmie Pinot Noir

2025 William Downie Tolmie Pinot Noir

92 pts
William Downie |Upper Coulburn |Pinot Noir
Debut release of a new bargain Pinot from Bill Downie, this one of some strange pink volcanic soils out the back of Tolmie, VIC.
4.0
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars
1 Review
Price:
$29.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
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Description

This Pinot started with a bit of curiosity for Bill Downie. While driving backroads near Tolmie in Upper Goulburn, a glimpse of pink volcanic soil that he'd never seen before gave him a hunch that it might grow something interesting. A few vintages later, here it is: a fresh, frisky, and ready-to-rip sibling Pinot to the hugely popular Cathedral Pinot Noir.

Most of the fruit comes from the Barwite vineyard just outside Tolmie, with the rest from Mornington and a little splash of King Valley. It’s bright and open from the get-go. Think redcurrant, sour cherry, a little tobacco and something earthy like wet stone or miso. There’s structure, sure, but it’s not trying to be fancy. The palate is chewy and vibrant, with a mix of spice, red fruit and a mineral thread running through it.

It’s the kind of Pinot you’ll want to drink with mates, maybe slightly chilled, with food or without. No cellaring required - it’s ready when you are. Great debut of a new drop for one of Australia's Pinot Noir masters.

92 points
"Feels more serious than its price point too, albeit the style isn’t as easy access as its stablemate Cathedral."
- Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

Mike Bennie

Mike Bennie

The Wine Front 92 Points

Lean and spicy, chewy and dusty, a little astringency but that’s also a positive in sense of restraint and structure. Tart cherry, raspberry, cranberry fruit, smoked paprika, charry brown spices, twiggy elements and a touch bitter through the finish. Has a freshness to it. Feels more serious than its price point too, albeit the style isn’t as easy access as its stablemate Cathedral.

Customer Reviews

4.0
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 1 review
Total 5 star reviews: 0 Total 4 star reviews: 1 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
1 review
  • DB
    David B.
    Verified Buyer
    16 seconds ago
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    Fascinating Option from dedicated Pinot Noir Maker

    William Downie is a fascinating winemaker devoted to Pinot Noir with a few years of Burgundy experience under his belt. A dedicated 'low-interventionist', he’s making wines from several vineyards around Gippsland and other sites in Victoria, including the Mornington Peninsula, as well as his own vineyard. Many of his wine are pricier but this one is a gem. 75% fruit from Tolmie, 782m above seal level with the balance from Mornington and a splash from King Valley. Complex berry fruits, tobacco with plenty of weight and substance. A little bit of spicey tartness gives the wine a lovely restraint.

    Was this helpful?

Having driven from Mansfield, in the Upper Goulburn region of Victoria, over the hill and through the town of Tolmie to the King Valley many times, I’d noted the unique, pinky red volcanic soils in the road cuttings on the way up the hill. I’d never seen a soil type like it and wondered why no one had planted vines in the area. I was certain it would make beautiful wine. A couple of vintages ago a friend called and said he had some extra fruit from near Mansfield and would I be interested in taking some. Sight unseen I said yes. The wine we made from that parcel was a real surprise. It had bright, crunchy red fruit and a tannin structure like nothing we had made for Cathedral before. I had visited a number of vineyards in the area in the past and couldn’t understand how this wine was possible. The following winter, with the same friend who found the fruit for us, we drove up to visit the grower. As we left Mansfield, I had expected him to turn right at the roundabout on the edge of town to go in the direction of the wine growing area but instead he drove straight through in the direction of Tolmie. As soon we left the roundabout I yelled out ‘I know exactly what’s going on! I’ll bet you everything I have that this vineyard is on the pink soil!’ About 10 minutes later we drove down a narrow dirt road into a vineyard planted in bright pinky red volcanic soil.

The 2025 Pinot Noir is about 70% Barwite vineyard below the town of Tolmie in the Upper Goulburn with 25% Mornington Peninsula and the balance from the King Valley. The nose is complex and difficult to describe but shows bright berry fruits, miso, tobacco leaf and freshly rained on rock. The palate is chewy and dense with more dark and red fruits, spice and stone.

Drink 2025 - 2032

Price Bracket $30 or Less
Type Red
Body Light Bodied
Variety Pinot Noir
Country Australia
Region Upper Coulburn
Australian State VIC
Feature Natural/Lo-Fi
Reviewed By The Wine Front
Critic Score 92
Size 750ml
Vintage 2025
Closure Screw Cap

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