L’appel Wines is a Tasmanian project by vignerons Bart Johnston and Jess Nuel, built around expressing the character of fruit sourced from notable sites across the Tamar, Huon, Coal Valley and East Coast. Bart’s experience in regions such as Mornington Peninsula, Oregon, Burgundy and Languedoc informs their light-handed approach in the cellar, where old-vine fruit (average 36 years) is wild-fermented, unfiltered and matured in seasoned barriques, with recent Pinot Noirs incorporating more whole-bunch for freshness and structure. Their wines are defined by site, vintage and a purposeful simplicity at the core.

In Bart’s words: “Pinot Noir is one of the great varieties for expressing site, revealing the subtle differences between vineyards, soils and climates. Our aim is to showcase that diversity, working with some of the island’s oldest vineyards to create a new-generation expression of old dirt. Winegrowing is about people. Our relationships with growers, colleagues and friends is central to what we do, alongside thoughtful farming and a willingness to question convention. From vineyard to winery, our approach is light-handed but intentional: hand-picked fruit, meticulous sorting, spontaneous fermentation and considered whole-bunch use to build structure, lift and energy without losing purity. Élevage takes place in traditional old 228L barriques, with minimal sulphur and no fining or filtration. The wines are then given time to rest and released at their prime. Through Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Meunier, we look forward to sharing our little slice of Tasmania.”