Introducing Anim
Anim Wines
Tasmania
Max and Siobhan Marriot are the team behind Anim, a small family project based in Tasmania. The aim of Anim is to highlight unique sites and special parcels from southern Tasmania. All the wines in the range are pretty fab but there are a couple of absolute gems that I could drink every day of the year. The Chardonnay and the Field Blend. So good!
2018 Anim Chardonnay
In the South of Tasmania right on the D’Entrecasteaux Channel sits the very special Tinderbox vineyard - this is where Max and Siobhan source the fruit for their Chardonnay. There are 13 and half rows of Chardonnay, 8 rows from the top block are low cropping on scoria (vesicular volcanic rock), which produce highly flavorsome bunches. The remaining, moderate cropping 5 and half rows from the bottom block are on mudstone and produce high acid bunches.
The blocks were picked together and whole bunched pressed to seasoned French oak after a very brief settling in the press pan. Wild ferment, stirred twice and then left alone to hibernate for the winter. Partial wild malo.
While I do have somewhat of a geeky obsession with alternative/obscure varieties, Chardonnay will always be my number one. When you find a good one (and there are plenty out there) it can make your day, week, month or year!
I absolutely love this wine. An enticing perfume of peach stone, lime, green apple skins and fresh mineral/oceany aromas. The palate is super fresh and brimming with flavour - white peach, lime zest, almond meal and ginger spice. Medium body, textural and vibrant - the electric acidity zips through the palate to a long minerally finish. A beautifully balanced, complex, delicate and ultra tasty wine. Yum!
Somehow this wine got missed when I tasted through the range more than 12 months ago - I imagine it has long since sold out. The good news is there are now more recent releases available, which I’m sure are just as delicious. I’ll hunt them out and let you know ASAP!
Tasted: January 21
RRP: $40
Style: Varietal, medium, textural white.
ABV: 12%
Drink it: 2020-2025
Top photo credit - Anim Wines
