Tolpuddle Chardonnay

Wine Description

Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay reflects the cool maritime climate of Tasmania's Coal River Valley, and the site itself is gently sloping, north-east facing, with light silica over sandstone.  The result is a fine and precise Chardonnay with a backbone of firm acidity, and a combination of lightness of texture, and intensity of flavor.

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Acclaim
“It seems a gross understatement to say that Tolpuddle has been in fine form as of late, but they have knocked it out the park again with this release from the cooler '23 vintage. The palest of straw in the glass, the aromas crisp and filigreed. Citrus, white peach and nectarine cut with glorious wisps of struck match and flinty complexity. Grilled hazelnuts, deftly-judged vanillin oak, lardo, white flowers, crushed riverstone, clotted cream and sea spray. The wine envelops the imbiber; flavours precise and pure with an umami-rich, mineral cadence, dreamy texture and daubs of spiced oatmeal, grilled peaches and flint. The finish is sustained, the only thing unresolved the need for another (larger?) bottle. An outstanding Australian chardonnay.” — James Halliday, Sep 2024
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Tolpuddle Vineyard
Vineyard size
50 acres
Soil composition
Light Silica over Sandstone
Training method
Guyot VSP
Elevation:
132 - 198 feet
Vines/acre:
1,110 - 1,515
Yield/acre:
2.4 tons
Exposure:
Northeastern
Year vineyard planted:
1988
Harvest time:
March - April
First vintage of this wine:
2012
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Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
100% Chardonnay
Fermentation container:
Barrels
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
15 days
Fermentation temperature:
68 °F
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes - 100%
Type of aging container:
Barriques and Barrels
Size of aging container:
228L - 500L
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
9 months
Age of Aging Container:
New to 3 years
Length of bottle aging:
8 months
Total SO2
134
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.2
Acidity:
7 g/L
Alcohol:
13.5 %
Total SO2
134
Residual sugar:
1.7 g/L
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Wine Production

The grapes were all hand picked, whole bunch pressed, and fermented in French oak. The wine spent nine months in barrel with gentle stirring as required, then rested in tank on lees.

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About the Vineyard

Tolpuddle Vineyard is an outstanding site within the Coal River Valley region. Planted in 1988 solely to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the vineyard takes its name from the Tolpuddle Martyrs, whose “reward” for starting England’s first agrarian union was to be transported to Tasmania as convicts.

Since acquiring the vineyard in 2011, Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith have invested heavily in improving all aspects of the vineyard and they are fully committed to seeing it recognised as one of Australia’s great single vineyard sites.