Stoney Vineyard
Domaine A: 5 Stars - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2011-2012
Coal River Valley, Tasmania
domaine-a.com.au
Stoney Vineyard is part of Domaine A, a 20ha property in the Coal River Valley of southern Tasmania, owned by Ruth and Peter Althaus. It was originally planted with 0.5ha of noble grape varieties in 1973 by its former owners, Priscilla and George Park. Inspired by the quality and potential of the site’s early wines, Ruth and Peter purchased Stoney Vineyard in 1989. The vineyard’s sloping, north-north easterly aspect, and the foliage height of 1400mm, enable vine leaves to take full advantage of the prolonged hours of bright summer sunshine from 5 am until 9 pm during the ripening period. This is normal for Stoney Vineyard.
YOU CAN BUY STONEY VINEYARD WINE ONLINE HERE>
Stoney Vineyard wines are created for current consumption or medium-term cellaring. The vineyards are densely planted and trellised according to the best practised of northern Europe. All pruning, shoot positioning and grape picking is done by hand. The red wines spend 12 months in 100% French oak.
Domaine A/Stoney Vineyard
One of the ‘Best of the Best’ Wineries and 5/5 red stars
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2011-2012
“Landmark Wine of Australia“
“My suggestion is that as many wine lovers as possible should try wines from [Domaine A], an example of those who make wines hugely superior to the current Australian stereotype.”
Jancis Robinson MW OBE, April 2009
“made without compromise”
“The wines are made without compromise, and reflect the low yields from the immaculately tended vineyards. They represent aspects of both Old World and New World philosophies, techniques and styles.”
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2007
“Peter and Ruth Althaus are absolutely committed”
Peter and Ruth Althaus are absolutely committed to their showpiece vineyard, displaying singular focus and dedication. Althaus makes the top-class Bordeaux-like Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon, stunning merlot and pinot noir, as well as a complex (barrel-fermented) sauvignon blanc. Every detail is covered, with the Stoney Vineyard range made from fruit that doesn’t pass the rigorous selection process to achieve Domaine A status.”
Peter Bourne, Gourmet Traveller WINE, June/July 2007
“(…) The Sauvignon Blanc can be racy and vivacious, the Cabernet Sauvignon elegant and structured, and the Pinot Noir complex and textured. Like other Tasmanian vineyards, it tends to produce its best wine in warmer seasons.”
Jeremy Oliver, www.jeremyoliver.com.au
Stoney Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
“A million miles away from the leaner, herbaceous style” (2010 vintage)
“Another thoroughly lovely wine from Peter Althaus and his team at Domaine A, who are much better known for their reds than their whites. This is a very appealing wine; bright and vibrant with lashings of tropical fruit flavours it is a real crowd pleaser and a million miles away from the leaner, herbaceous style of savvy blanc that is fast falling out of favour. Some residual sweetness has given the wine delightfully fleshiness but there is also some impressive structure.”
Winsor Dobbin, The Sunday Examiner, May 2011
Stoney Vineyard Pinot Noir
94 points (2010 vintage)
"Strong, clear crimson-purple; combines power and elegance, depth and length - all this in Domaine A's second label; plum, black cherry and some foresty nuances play throughout the long palate. A long life ahead. Drink by: 2018."
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion Magazine, Feb/March 2012
Stoney Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Gourmet Traveller Wine – Best Buy Wines: Wines to cellar (2005 vintage)
“This, the ‘second wine’ of Domaine A, already has a few years under its belt, but is showing no signs of becoming the slightest bit tired. I sipped from a bottle over a couple of days and it got better and better, indicating it still has a very good future ahead of it. Much more akin to a classically proportioned red Bordeaux than your typical ballsy Aussie cab, it has fine blackcurrant, cedar and earth aromas, balanced generosity of fruit and a fine, powdery finish. Lovely. MA.”
Max Allen, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Best Buy Wines – Wines to Cellar, June/July 2011
