Stefano Lubiana Primavera Pinot Noir 2023: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Fresh, silky & aromatic

A bright, earlier-drinking Pinot Noir from Stefano Lubiana’s certified biodynamic Tasmanian vineyards, made with the same estate focus but in a softer, more immediately charming style than the Estate Pinot Noir. The 2023 Primavera Pinot Noir shows vibrant crimson-purple colour, ripe raspberry, strawberry, brambly mulberry and toasted cedar, with generous raspberry and strawberry-bonbon flavour, juicy acidity, firm tannin and excellent length.

Highlights

• Certified biodynamic and vegan suitable
• Crafted by Stefano Lubiana — Tasmania’s first and only certified biodynamic vineyard
• Ripe raspberry, strawberry, brambly mulberry, toasted cedar, cherry and silky tannin
• 100% Pinot Noir from Derwent Valley and Huon Valley, Tasmania
• No current critic score or medal found for this stocked 2023 release
• 13.5% ABV

Tasting Notes

Vibrant crimson-purple in the glass, with a slight halo when swirled. The nose is lifted and fragrant, showing ripe raspberries, strawberries, brambly mulberries and toasted cedar. The palate is medium-bodied and generous, with raspberry, strawberry-bonbon and cherry fruit kept bright by juicy acidity and firm, tidy tannin. It finishes long, silky and energetic, with enough concentration to soften further in bottle.

Winemaking

Primavera Pinot Noir is mostly wild fermented and handled to retain freshness and fruit flavour. The grapes are hand-picked, hand-sorted and fermented with their own yeasts, using a mix of whole bunch and destemmed fruit in open and closed-top fermenters. The wine is drained from skins, basket pressed after around three weeks, then gravity-fed to 225L French oak barriques in the underground cellar before being transferred to tank ahead of bottling.

Vineyard & Vintage

The 2023 Primavera Pinot Noir comes from two Tasmanian vineyards: the majority from Stefano Lubiana’s biodynamic Granton vineyard in the Derwent Valley, with a smaller portion from the Cradoc vineyard in the Huon Valley. Granton contributes savoury layers and structure from gravelly red loam, riverbed silt and chalky soil, while Cradoc brings pretty raspberry, cherry and strawberry-bonbon characters from slower ripening over cobblestone and white clay. The cool 2023 season, lower yields and late March harvest delivered concentrated fruit with excellent flavour.

Why We Love It

This is the gentle, graceful side of Lubiana Pinot Noir: perfumed, silky and easier to open young, but still carrying the vineyard detail and biodynamic integrity that make the estate wines so loved. It has red-fruit charm, Tasmanian freshness and just enough tannin to make it feel grown-up at the table.

Food Pairing

With raspberry, strawberry, mulberry, cherry, cedar and fine tannin, this Pinot Noir suits dishes with savoury depth and gentle richness. It is especially good with duck, roast chicken, pork, mushrooms, dumplings, salmon and earthy vegetarian dishes.

Try matching this wine with →

• Xiao long bao or pork dumplings — Find a Recipe
• Duck breast with cherry sauce — Find a Recipe
• Mushroom and thyme tart — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

Pour it for roast chicken, duck, dumplings, mushroom tart or a beautiful midweek Pinot when you want something polished but not too serious. It is elegant enough for dinner with friends and soft enough for a quiet glass on the couch.

Cellaring

Drink now to 2031. The wine is already charming, but the concentrated fruit and firm tannin will relax with time. The producer notes it can be cellared for 5+ years; store it somewhere cool, dark and stable.

Producer

Stefano Lubiana is based in Granton in Tasmania’s Derwent Valley, where Steve and Monique Lubiana have built one of Australia’s leading biodynamic wine estates. The vineyard has been farmed biodynamically since 2010 and is recognised as Tasmania’s first and only certified biodynamic vineyard. Primavera sits as the more approachable Pinot Noir expression in the range, shaped by wild yeasts, thoughtful whole-bunch use, gravity flow and estate-grown fruit from Derwent Valley and Huon Valley sites.

Related Wines To Try →

If you enjoy elegant Pinot Noir with red fruit, perfume and silky structure, these are lovely bottles to explore next:

• Same producer, more structured estate Pinot Noir with dark cherry and rose petal — Stefano Lubiana Estate Pinot Noir
• Organic McLaren Vale Pinot Noir with strawberry and cherry — Spring Seed Aster Pinot Noir
• Cool-climate organic Pinot Noir with cherry and silky tannins — See Saw Organic Pinot Noir

FAQ

What does Stefano Lubiana Primavera Pinot Noir 2023 taste like?

It tastes bright, silky and red-fruited, with ripe raspberry, strawberry, brambly mulberry, cherry and toasted cedar. The palate is medium-bodied, juicy and generous, with firm tannin and excellent length. It is more approachable than the Estate Pinot Noir, but still has real structure.

Is this Pinot Noir dry, sweet or full-bodied?

This is a dry red wine, with approximately 2 g/L residual sugar and less than 1 gram of sugar per 100mL. It is medium-bodied rather than full and heavy. The raspberry and strawberry fruit gives generosity, but the finish is savoury and dry.

What are the tannins and acidity like?

The tannins are firm but fine, giving the wine structure without making it heavy. Acidity is juicy and bright, carrying the raspberry, cherry and mulberry fruit through the finish. The balance makes it very useful with food.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

This is a certified biodynamic Pinot Noir, not a No Added Preservative wine. It may contain sulphites, as most wines do, and organic/biodynamic wines are made to lower allowable sulphur limits than conventional wines. It is vegan suitable.

How should I serve Stefano Lubiana Primavera Pinot Noir?

Serve at around 14–16°C in a large Pinot Noir glass. A short 15-minute decant will help the raspberry, strawberry, mulberry and cedar notes open. A light chill works well in warmer weather.

What food pairs well with this Pinot Noir?

It pairs beautifully with duck, pork dumplings, roast chicken, salmon, mushroom tart, lentil dishes and soft cheeses. The red-fruit perfume suits poultry and pork, while the savoury structure works well with mushrooms and earthy vegetables. For a vegetarian match, try mushroom and thyme tart.

Can this Pinot Noir be cellared?

Yes, it can be cellared. Drink now to 2031 for a balance of fresh fruit and developing savoury complexity. The producer notes that the concentrated palate will relax with time and that the wine can be put down for 5+ years.

Is Stefano Lubiana Primavera Pinot Noir vegan friendly?

Yes, this wine is vegan suitable. It is also made from certified biodynamic vineyard fruit. It is a strong choice for drinkers wanting premium Tasmanian Pinot Noir in a more approachable style.

Who will enjoy this Pinot Noir the most?

This is ideal for drinkers who enjoy silky, aromatic Pinot Noir with raspberry, strawberry, cherry and gentle savoury detail. If you like Pinot Noir, Tasmanian reds or lighter biodynamic wines with structure, this will suit you well. It is brighter and more delicate than Shiraz, but more structured than a simple chillable red.

Is this wine keto friendly?

Yes, this is a dry, low-sugar red wine with approximately 2 g/L residual sugar and less than 1 gram of sugar per 100mL. It can suit many keto-conscious drinkers looking for a premium biodynamic Pinot Noir. Alcohol still contributes calories, so enjoy it mindfully as part of your broader plan.

(SKU: SL_PPN_CV)