The Holyman family had been involved in vineyards in Tasmania for 20 years, but Joe Holyman's career in the wine industry, first as a sales rep, then as a wine buyer, and more recently working in wineries in NZ, Portugal, France, Mount Benson and Coonawarra, gave him an exceptionally broad-based understanding of wine. In 2004 Joe and wife Lou purchased the former Rotherhythe Vineyard, which had been established in 1986, and set about restoring it to its former glory. There are two ranges: the Stoney Rise wines, focusing on fruit and early drinkability, and the Holyman wines, with more structure, more new oak and the best grapes, here the focus on length and potential longevity.

For this wine, the grapes were specially selected from a small block on our 38-year-old vineyard. They were pressed as whole bunches before going through a natural yeast ferment in 100% new French oak puncheons. The nose shows white peach with hints of citrus and nougat. The palate is taut and racy in the mouth with a powerful finish. The oak component is well balanced with the weight of the fruit and the tight acid. While it is easy to enjoy now, it will benefit from five or more years in the cellar.