Although included on the Tamar Valley Wine Route the vineyards and cellar door are actually located in Relbia which is a fifteen minute drive south of Launceston near the airport. They are geared up for visitors with a restaurant, tasting room and gift shop. It can get busy at times but the tasting are well organised and you don’t feel that you are being rushed through, staff are very welcoming and in formative and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
The story of Josef Chromy is a fascinating one. Having qualified as a butcher nineteen year old Josef escaped from communist Czechoslovakia in 1950. Finding his way to Austria he was given refugee status and offered relocation to America, Canada, New Zealand or Australia. He chose Australia because he thought it was a land of opportunity and was as far away from communism that he could imagine. Josef settled in Tasmania and worked in factories until he had enough money saved to start his own business in the butchery and meat trade. Having built a hugely successful business Josef invested in the growing new wine industry in Tasmania and was involved in Tamar Ridge amongst others. He launched Josef Chromy Wines in late 2007 and it has grown to become one of the best known producers on the island.
The estate has 61 hectares of vines and grows Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Pinot Noir.
NV Tasmanian Cuvee. A blend of Pinot Noir (60%) and Chardonnay (40%) and has spent 18 months on lees. The nose is biscuity and very appealing. Lemon citrus with a touch of red berry, crisp and dry with a lovely biscuity finish. Very drinkable, an excellent aperitif.
NV Sparkling Rose. 100% Pinot Noir. Delicate salmon pink, gentle mousse and elegant red fruits. Dry with a nice strawberry finish.
Riesling 2018. lime with a flinty minerality. Dry with a nice texture.
Pinot Gris 2019. The nose is aromatic, peachy, apricot and a hint of lime. Palate has lovely texture with stone fruit and gentle peach on the finish. Very nice.
Chardonnay 2018. Barrel fermented with one third new and the remainder a mixture of one and two years old. Some wild fermentation. The wine spent twelve months in oak before bottling. The nose is very appealing with stone fruit and almond. The palate has layers of flavour with tropical fruits, apricot, lovely balance and a nice nutty biscuity finish.
Zdar Chardonnay 2012. Hand picked fruit is pressed directly into barrel with no fining or settling. One third of the barriques are new French oak with the remainder a mixture of one and two years old. Following fermentation the wine spends twelve months in oak before bottling where it ages further before release. The wine is only made in the best vintages. The nose is lemon citrus along with biscuity vanilla. The palate has complexity and a creamy texture. The finish has great length. Excellent stuff.
Rose 2019. Pinot Noir juice in contact with skins for 4 hours to produce a delicate pale pink colour. There is lots of strawberry fruit here with some elegant floral notes. Very drinkable indeed.
Pinot Noir 2018. With 25% whole bunch in the ferment and ageing in French oak of which one third was new and the remainder a mixture of between one and four years. Delightful cherry and dried herbs on the nose. The palate has good structure with a gently savoury spice supporting the cherry fruit. Very nice indeed.
Pinot Noir 2013. What a delightful wine this is. The nose is complex with cherry, mushroom and toasty spice. Palate is complex, ethereal, cherry, savoury and a nice gentle spicy finish.
Botrytis Riesling 2017. Orange citrus with candied peel and melon. Lovely balance and texture. Very good and a great end to an excellent flight of wines.