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2024 Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay

James Halliday

In stock

One of the finest Chardonnays out of Australia, or anywhere else. It has previously won the Françoise De Castella trophy at the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards, 2024. Known as the “Frankie”, this trophy is the white wine equivalent of the Jimmy Watson Trophy. Unbelievably, the Tolpuddle also got the Frankie in 2018 and 2021, so it is the only wine to achieve a hattrick! Aussie Chardonnay legends Shaw and Smith spotted this Tasmanian vineyard in 2011 and have ensured its renown is rising fast. It offers a distinctly Burgundy palate, with linear acidity that drives long and clean through the wine's gently sappy, toasty flavours. This will open up nicely now, but there's a great life ahead in cellar. Buy this at present prices, not future ones!

$106.00 in mixed 6+ or $118.00 per bottle

Overview

Grape

Chardonnay

Its Origins

The 2023 Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay has won the Françoise De Castella trophy for Best Young White Wine at the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards. Also known as the “Frankie”, it is the white wine equivalent of the Jimmy Watson Trophy. This is the third time this wine, made by Adam Wadewitz, has been awarded the trophy, having previously won in 2018 and 2021. "If ever a new winery was born with blue blood in its veins, Tolpuddle would have to be it." — James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2014. Tolpuddle Vineyard was established in 1988 and it took its name from the Tolpuddle Martyrs: English convicts transported to Tasmania for forming an agricultural union. The leader of the Martyrs, George Loveless, served some of his sentence working on a property near Richmond, part of which is now Tolpuddle Vineyard. The vineyard is planted with mature Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines, facing north-east, and sloping gently up from Back Tea Tree Road. The soil is light silica over sandstone and of moderate vigour, ensuring well-balanced vines producing grapes of great flavour and intensity. In 2006 Tolpuddle Vineyard won the inaugural Tasmanian Vineyard of the Year award, reflecting the performance of this unique and distinguished site. Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW purchased the vineyard in 2011 and are fully committed to seeing Tolpuddle Vineyard recognised as one of Australia’s great single vineyards.

What The Critics Say

98/100 Halliday's Wine Companion, Dave Brookes

"Ooh-boy the Tolpuddle Chardonnay is in a good place. I guess you could call this vintage a 'classic'. A little more restraint and line than the '23; a little more filigree and nuance, those flinty/struck-match tones a little further back in the mix and woven through the wine in an intricate pattern. White peach, lemon, grapefruit and nectarine fruits are high fidelity and beautifully poised, suffused with soft spice, clover and grapefruit blossom, crushed stone, cinnamon, a murmur of vanillin oak and spiced poached pear, grilled hazelnuts, crème fraîche and a whisper of onshore breeze. Everything is in sharp relief, with the purest of fruit. It's all detail and tension, with a textural glaze of grapefruit pith and a sapid, mineral line that builds like a crescendo before releasing, finishing long and true. It's a stunner." Drink 2025 - 2040

97/100 Huon Hooke

"Bright light yellow colour with a whiff or reduction early, which cleared a little to reveal acacia honey, lemon essence and hints of snuffed candle. The wine is precise and refined on the tongue, with great intensity of fruit flavour harmoniously intertwined with refreshing acidity, resulting in a seamless whole that glides very long through the aftertaste. Gorgeous chardonnay, and will be long lived. 06 Aug 2025." Drink 2025 - 2039

95/100 The Wine Front, Mike Bennie

"Flint, the main thing here. A struck match and steely mineral combo from first whiff through to last, cool and crisp finish. Smoky, stony things throughout the wine, a cool, bright flavour profile too, quite delicate, lemon-lime, Japanese pickled ginger, tart, green apple juice and some faint, cedar and a cooling tonic water edge to the wine. Crystalline texture, glassy and bright, a crunch to texture too that feels pleasing. It has all the right moves for a wine detailed by edifice of flint and winemaking approach. It should win a lot of friends in this en vogue style, done well." Drink 2025 - 2035

Stats & Food Matching

Variety	Chardonnay
Region	Tasmania
Closure	Cap
Volume	750 ml
Alcohol	13.00%
Maturity	2025 - 2040

This Wine Goes Well With

Taste

Delivery & Returns

We deliver throughout New Zealand and to some locations overseas. Our deliveries are made by trusted third party carriers. For further details on prices and delivery options please go to DELIVERY INFORMATION section of our site.

If for any reason you are not entirely happy with your order or you suspect that they may be affected by a quality issue, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will remedy the problem straight away. Contact us on 0800 422 767.