Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay 2024
The 20 hectare north-east facing Tolpuddle Vineyard is located in the Coal River Valley of Tasmania, which is in a rain shadow, so is dry but cold. The dry climate ensures there is very low disease pressure, which in turn means that the grapes can be left on the vines for longer to ensure they ripen fully. All the grapes were hand picked, whole-bunch pressed, and fermented in French oak barriques. The wine spent nine months in barrel with a mixture of toast levels, a third of which were new. There was gentle lees stirring as required, then a further four months in tank on lees prior to bottling. On the nose this wine has great purity with notes of lemon peel, grapefruit, and white jasmine. On the palate, there is an impressive persistence of flavour, excellent balance, fresh zingy acidity and a distinct crystalline character.
