2025 Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard 1.5m Chardonnay

Rich, concentrated and texturally voluminous yet fresh with a long flinty edged finish.

In 2003, the Croser family removed 1.3 hectares of the original Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay that was planted in 1979 in the Piccadilly Valley as the first Adelaide Hills vineyard. The area was replanted with the French Bernard clones 76 and 95 on rootstocks, on very close 1.5 metre row spacing with the fruiting wire at only 0.5 metres above the ground. This unique vineyard section produces earlier ripening, fuller flavoured Chardonnay than the old vine Chardonnay on its own roots, across the centre road in Tiers Vineyard.
Brilliant pale straw colour with green toned edges and a watery hue. Refined yet amplified in their intensity are aromas of white peach and nectarine which are married to roasted almond, biscuity nougat and gun flint notes. Rich, concentrated and texturally voluminous yet showing impressive freshness, the mid weighted palate is graced with nectarine, white peach, dried honey and biscuity oak flavours. Infusions of mineral flint, citrusy nougat and almond sit in the background. Lively yet perfectly balanced acidity with a long flinty edged finish that picks up a gentle creaminess texture wise.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13.6%

Other Reviews….
This was a product of a very hot, dry vintage, which tested all of Brian Croser’s immense experience. Yet the wine captures very much about what this particular vineyard in the Piccadilly Valley is all about. On the nose, there are notes of very subtle lemon curd and brioche with a spicy complexity. On the palate, there is a textural richness that combines some nice, sweet fruit characters with an edgy, grapefruit acidity, and a further quince paste, vanilla pod-like influence. The finish delivers with a very subtle savory note and distinct minerality that completes what is a very good wine. Drink 2026-2038.
96 Points
Ray Jordan – WinePilot.com

Brian Croser has noted the 2025 vintage as the warmest, driest and earliest in his career, a career which stretches back for more than fifty years. However, any concerns that his iconic Chardonnays from the Tiers Vineyard would not reflect the typicity that they have come to enjoy over many years has been put to rest. The section of the Tiers Vineyard which was replanted in 2003 on 1.5 metre spacing ripens earlier than the older vines, the reminder of the Tiers. Fermentation was in French oak barriques, 1/3rd of them new. The wine was then left on lees before bottling. 575 dozen made. The colour is a shimmering yellow gold. The nose reveals ripe, full flavours of stone fruits, with nectarines, peaches, hints of honeycomb and hazelnuts, florals and jasmine. There is noticeable oak but integration is proceeding well. The wine has superb balance and real intensity with great persistence. It will surely still be providing immense pleasure in a decade. Love it. Drink 2026-2036.
96 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.com

Quite the potency to this chardonnay, so too a distinct saline minerality. Scents and flavours of toffee apple, lemongrass, preserved lemon and green apple juice with dashes of sugared almond and flinty, stony notes. Lots going on here and, while concentrated and somewhat power-packed, this has a levity and finesse that helps the wine glide along confidently. Serious white wine territory.
95 Points
Mike Bennie - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion