By Christine Salins.
Tasmanian sparkling wine is a remarkable success story, and Jansz is a great story within that story. The brand was created in 1986, with its home base a vineyard in the Pipers River region of north-east Tasmania (an area known colloquially as ‘sparkling Tasmania’).
It was initially a joint venture between Heemskerk and the great Champagne house of Louis Roederer, which had recognised the similarities of the Tasmanian climate to that of Champagne. Tasmania today is producing some of the finest sparkling wines in the world, outside of Champagne.
The Hill-Smith family, owners of Yalumba, bought the Jansz vineyard and label in 1998, and has continued to believe, and invest heavily, in the production of premium sparkling wine. Some years ago, it purchased the old Frogmore Creek vineyard in Tasmania’s Coal River Valley, about 15 minutes from Hobart.
Now renamed Pontos Hills, it was the perfect location to establish a winery for Jansz and so construction commenced on a state-of-the-art winery that could produce world-class wines with an emphasis on innovation and sustainability. Earlier this year, the first grapes were put through the winery, and in March Robert Hill-Smith was there to celebrate the winery’s opening, alongside winemaker Jennifer Doyle.
To mark the occasion, 1986 bottles of Jansz Tasmania Pontos Hills Vintage Cuvee 2017 were released (the number of bottles honouring the year that Jansz was established). See below for notes.
Pontos Hills is an operational winery. For the time being at least, there is no tasting room or cellar door, but Jansz does have a tasting room at its Pipers Brook vineyard. www.jansz.com.au
Jansz Tasmania Pontos Hills Vintage Cuvee 2017, $50: With 33 months of bottle-ageing on yeast lees, this elegant and very special wine has subtle nuances of nougat and toasted hazelnuts, along with honey, white peach and lemon myrtle flavours. Great length, a delicate bead and fine mousse.
Jansz Tasmania Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2013, $65: Produced only in the very best vintages, this limited release wine is vibrant and lively with lemon, peach and brioche flavours. With a hint of oyster shell, you can even get a whiff of the winds blown in from Bass Strait. Each bottle is individually numbered.
Jansz Tasmania Premium Cuvée, $30: Consistently high-quality, Jansz’s non-vintage bubbles are perfect for any celebration (or even for everyday quaffing if that’s your thing). Produced from vineyards throughout Tasmania, it has a fine creamy texture and dry finish, with lingering flavours of citrus and nougat.
