Tapanappa Tiers Chardonnay 2005

Last week I was pleasantly surprised when Brian Croser paid a short visit to show his Whalebone reds and Tiers Chardonnay. Although the reds were very good it was the Chardonnay that really blew me away in all its aspects. Everything about this wine is Burgundian except for the fact that its from the revered Tiers vineyard in the Piccadilly Valley. This vineyard is planted with 3 hectares of Chardonnay and its physical structure and mesoclimate can – just as any vineyard in the Côte d’Or – be divided in three different parts that all produce fruit with subtle differences while viticulture is eerily Burgundian with high vine density and yields at basically Grand Cru level. It’s the fruit from the upper part of the slope that’s used for the Tapanappa, the balance is sold to Petaluma which makes their Tiers Chardonnay. Croser uses the whole spectrum of winemaking techniques including barrel fermentation, malo-lactic fermentation, lees stirring and no filtering resulting in a complex wine where none of the added elements is dominanting the fruit or each other. Balance is the keyword indeed, in fact so impeccable that the final wine nearly seems simple. This is further enhanced by the fact that this wine is rather austere in a positive Burgundian way, simply needing time to open out and show itself over time. I couldn’t resist the temptation though and brought a bottle along to dinner last Friday. The pale straw wine offered a complex aroma of citrus, stonefruit and melon backed by spicy and toasty oak, butterscotch and leesy characters. The complexity and balance is perfectly reflected on the palate that is soft and elegant yet rich and textural with ripe nectarines, figs and melon leading to a long and savoury finish. Another Australian classic crafted by the hand of a master. 95+

Source: Fine Wine Partners  Price: $85  Drink: 2009-2015

Web: www.tapanappawines.com.au

Explore posts in the same categories: Adelaide Hills, Australia, Chardonnay, Tasting Notes, Variety, Wine