Apsley Gorge

Established in 1988 this tiny vineyard is planted to Pinot Noir (5.5 hectares) and Chardonnay (1 hectare) and is located several kilometres inland from the coast near the entrance to the Apsley Gorge national Park north-west of Bicheno. The vineyards unique situation near the entry to the gorge brings breezes in the afternoon which have a distinct cooling effect which means this vineyard is typically one of the last to harvest in Tasmania with harvest usually being around the first week of May. This micro-climate is unique for the east coast.

Since 1999 winemaking has been undertaken by owner Brian Franklin who also does vintage each year in Burgundy with Philippe Charlopin (himself mentored by his friend Henri Jayer) in Gevrey Chambertin, and is helped here in Tasmania by young French winemakers including Philippe Charlopin’s son Yann. Including vintages undertaken in France Brian now has almost 40 vintages of wine-making experience in both France and Australia.

Always aiming for full phenolic ripeness the style of wines produced are rich and intense wines characterised by fully ripe fruit made using Burgundian know-how with texture and finesse and excellent natural acidity, without excessive extraction or heaviness. Produced very naturally with only a small percentage of new oak (maximum 30%) each year these are very individual wines of great class and structure that drink very well when young yet also age and evolve over a decade or more for the Pinot Noir.

‘The results at Apsley Gorge are wines, and especially Pinot Noirs, that brilliantly express spirit of place, a Tasmanian terroir through Burgundian technique – richly flavoured, complex Pinot Noirs, with soft tannins, that are an ode to the splendours of late autumn fruit.’ Konrad Muller, A Burgundian odyssey, Decanter, February 2019.

2022 Chardonnay - VERY LIMITED
From just 1 ha of fully mature vines the total wine produced is often little more than about 100 dozen bottles. 2022 was a cooler more typical year for the east coast of Tasmania and the wine shows more finesse and acidity together with its trademark generosity and richness and immediate pleasure to the benefit of the finished wine carrying a fresh balanced 13.8% alc. Rich bright and intense with wonderful texture and depth this will drink well young and also age gracefully for 5-10 years if given time.

The 2022 Chardonnay is the product of a challenging vintage. A la Niña year. One of the wettest years seen on the east coast of Tassie.  A lot of work was needed in the vineyard with canopy management to control mildews. Crop levels were down. The resulting wine is different to previous years. With the smaller crop, ripeness was achieved with higher acid levels.

The nose is focused and precise showing subtle Chardonnay fruit characters and underlying French oak. In the mouth what a treat, after the subtle nose it is a real surprise. There is a lot happening here; fruit, oak, yeast, minerality, all held together with tight acidity.  Different to previous AGV Chardonnays, this is one of the best. Brian Franklin - owner winemaker

‘Today, Franklin looks less maverick than seer, as Burgundian methods have become more frequently applied to Pinot Noir in Australia. Critical acclaim has also come, and Apsley’s cult wines sit comfortably in the premium price range for Australian Pinot Noir (on a par with Burgundy premier cru).’ Konrad Muller, A Burgundian odyssey, Decanter, February 2019.

2020 Pinot Noir
The 2020 Pinot is reminiscent of the 2013 Pinot.  A very intense yet fine wine, it is a product of the cooler more typical Tasmanian vintage, with a long slow ripening. The nose shows rich, dark fruit with some cigar box and sous bois character. On tasting you immediately sense the mouth filling texture with that ethereal pinot fruit that goes on and on. As always decanting is recommended.
The Apsley Gorge Pinot Noir 2020 is a very big wine, it is a product of the vintage, with a long slow ripening. The nose has the typical Apsley Gorge concentrated Pinot fruit giving a hint of what is to come. Even with the primary fruit you have the other complexities nosing through, and this wine has only started its journey. You know when it hits your pallet that this is something very special. It invades your mouth, not just the sensors on your tongue, but your whole mouth. Brian Franklin - owner winemaker

2021 Pinot Noir - due 2024
From the cooler 2021 vintage the colour is typically dark with a translucent depth. The nose has the rich Apsley Pinot fruit, but something else is pushing through; charcuterie, earthiness, and so much more. After smelling the wine you know the palate is going to be good. Very good! A powerful entry, filling the mouth with rich fruit, complex textural tannins and the indescribable mystery of pinot . As always decanting is recommended.
The colour is typical of Apsley Gorge showing those deep purple tones with the classic cherry rim. This wine is unfiltered and unfined so it doesn’t have the sparkle of the stars, but more the hues of the earth. The nose has varietal fruit beneath the slightly feral, mysterious, nuances of the wild yeast. French oak is there providing yet another layer of complexity. The pallet entry is rich and textured but also slightly restrained teasing you with what will follow. This wine is not a blockbuster, but leans more towards elegance and refined burgundy characters with the long finish. This is a structured wine reflecting the philosophy of AGV, the expression of terroir and vintage. Brian Franklin - owner winemaker