Recognition

Brian Croser sends a first-hand report from Tapanappa in the Piccadilly Valley on a small but promising harvest. Above, Croser scrutinizes the Chardonnay grapes in the Tiers Vineyard.

We all know what comes in small packages, but can they be a little bigger than the 2024 vintage from our Tiers,

 » Read more about: South Australia 2024 – a view from the Adelaide Hills  »

 » Read more about: Silver – The Global Pinot Noir Masters 2024 | Foggy Hill Vineyard “DEFINITUS” Pinot Noir 2021  »

If Tiers 1.5m Chardonnay hails from the “new” block of French Bernard clones planted in 2003, fruit for this Tiers Chardonnay is off the “old” block, the original block established in 1979. A cool vintage and low yields bring good concentration, but what really characterises the wine is its open and inviting summery bounce and energy.

 » Read more about: “Layer upon layer of concentrated flavour . . . and bounce.” – 95 Points | Jeni Port | Wine Pilot – Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

The Adelaide Hills 2023 vintage was the coolest of the four consecutive cool vintages since 2020. To quote winemaker, Brian Croser, the ’23 Chardonnays are far from “overt.” I find that re-assuring, the vintage speaks and it’s beautifully fine with purity of fruit and acidity layered naturally, succinctly, making 1.5m poised for further ageing. Meyer lemon,

 » Read more about: “Everything is in place.” – 96 Points | Jeni Port | Wine Pilot – Tapanappa Tiers 1.5 M Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

Bright green-gold hues introduce an immediately engaging and open young Chardonnay. Captures the Adelaide Hills archetypal Chardonnay beautifully in delicious citrus and stone fruits – bright and energetic – aided by juicy, filigree fine acidity that drives the wine long. The winemaker lets the fruit sing, it remains largely uncluttered or dominated by oak, but you just know it’s there and you sense it is totally integrated.

 » Read more about: “Captures the Adelaide Hills archetypal Chardonnay beautifully.” – 93 Points | Jeni Port | Wine Pilot – Tapanappa Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay 2023  »

Naturally, there is a close relationship between this wine and the preceding one. The 1.5m comes from younger vines, but both were made from hand-picked grapes that were chilled to 2°C, and air-bag pressed before fermentation in French barriques, one third of which were new. The pair underwent lees contact until racking and bottling in November,

 » Read more about: “A wonderful wine.”  – 5 Stars | Lester Jesberg | Winewise – Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

The nose reflects a cool site and vintage, offering suggestions of grapefruit, fig and white nectarine supported by lees complexity and a whiff of oak toastiness. The long, creamy, acid-fresh palate is a delight.

 » Read more about: “The long, creamy, acid-fresh palate is a delight.”  – 5 Stars | Lester Jesberg | Winewise – Tapanappa Tiers 1.5M Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

This wine offers aromas and flavours that strongly reflect white nectarine. Lees contact imparts an attractive nuttiness, and acidity drives the palate at this early stage.

 » Read more about: “Offers aromas and flavours that strongly reflect white nectarine”  – 4 Stars | Lester Jesberg | Winewise – Tapanappa Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay 2023  »

On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the Foggy Hill vineyard, winemaker Brian Croser – accompanied by wife Ann – embarked on a series of tasting and dinners to celebrate this milestone.

Whilst the Definitus wasn’t part of that tasting, opportunity afforded to review it post. The Definitus is akin to a block level wine,

 » Read more about: “A burst of flavour” – 95 Points | Stuart Robinson | The Vinsomniac – Tapanappa Foggy Hill ‘Definitus’ Pinot Noir 2021  »

It smells almost steely to me, which I like, and in with that there’s a pleasing green herb, mint and rosy perfume, cherry and strawberry, some cedar/pencil oak too. It’s medium-bodied with excellent structure, the quality of the tannin here is very good – all emery board and fine grip – there’s also something of a blood orange tang,

 » Read more about: “Quite different to a lot of Australian Pinot Noir, and that’s no bad thing either.” – 94 Points | Gary Walsh | The Wine Front – Tapanappa Foggy Hill Pinot Noir 2022  »

Only 2011 was cooler than 2023 (of recent vintages) in the Piccadilly Valley, as expressed in HDD at 1093°, versus the long term average of 1135°. This is from a block planted in 1979,  the clone unknown.

Pear, grapefruit and lemon oil, almond meal and biscuit spices. It’s a bright and tight wine, a distinctly citrus-laced line of acidity,

 » Read more about: “Its intensity and length mark it out as a classic Chardonnay.”  – 96 Point | Gary Walsh | The Wine Front – Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

From a section of the Tiers vineyard close planted in 2003 using the Bernard clones 76 and 95. This is same same, but different to the old vine Tiers, a little fleshier, but it’s the texture that’s the main point of difference.

White stonefruit, pear, quite spicy and slightly dusty/peppery, honey and lime.

 » Read more about: “The texture is a highlight.”  – 96 Point | Gary Walsh | The Wine Front – Tapanappa Tiers 1.5M Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

Pale gold with cyan reflections and a tight, but beautifully nuanced nose of orange and apple blossom, white peach, pear, apple, lemon, finger-lime, sugarmelon, dried galangal, cashew and honey nougat, fennel, a touch of spearmint, ocean salinity and a hint of flint. A bit ester-y, but not overt. In the mouth it’s like a sleeping Buddha.

 » Read more about: “This hits the precipice of elegant and fine Australian Chardonnay”  – Marc Malouf | Wine Worth Writing About – Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

Pale gold with cyan and silver reflections and a nose of honeysuckle, pear, fleshy lemon and lime, white pineapple and peach, white pepper, chervil, coriander seed, ripe fig, candied almond, custard, butter, spearmint and anise. Saint Aubin vibes! In the mouth it’s fleshy, juicy yet dry with plenty of drive from fresh acidity. Apple, pear,

 » Read more about: “Serious stuff”  – Marc Malouf | Wine Worth Writing About – Tapanappa Tiers 1.5M Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

Pale gold with cyan and silver reflections and a nose of orange blossom, floral apples, splice, grilled nectarine, ripe fig, pineapple sage, white pepper, oats/grains and a whisper of spearmint.

In the mouth it’s tart, dry and tense with driving acidity that aims straight down the palate. Think tangy nectarine, lemon, grapefruit, white pineapple and puckering green apple…it makes you salivate sweetness!

 » Read more about: “Top value Chardy with exciting energy and delicious fruit intensity.”  – Marc Malouf | Wine Worth Writing About – Tapanappa Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay 2023  »

Medium-light straw with green highlights. Rich and floral. Full of freshly sliced stone fruit and apple, white blossoms, fig, white chocolate, a little peanut oil, a nuance of oyster shell brine, grapefruit citrus and white stones. Inherent fruit richness which belies the intensity and delicacy. The acidity is a fine spine without a hint of shrillness,

 » Read more about: “Elegance and class abound.”  – 95 points | Regan Drew | Vino Notebook – Tapanappa Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay 2023  »

Pale lemon with green highlights. Fruit focused, but remaining delicate and intense. Pear, apple, sherbet, warm cinnamon spice, grapefruit and preserved lemon citrus, clove oil and torn brioche. Delicate texture, with precision and focus. Pomme fruit and grapefruit echoes after a ramrod straight line of flavour. Savoury spice hovers over the just medium bodied frame.

 » Read more about: “Fruit focused, but remaining delicate and intense.” – 95 points | Regan Drew | Vino Notebook – Tapanappa Tiers 1.5M Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

Pale lemon hue. Floral and fragrant. Pomme fruit and blossom, easy roast roast nut delicacy, soft honey, bread crust, ground salt and grapefruit pith.  Such flow and evenness with incredibly complex layers of fruit and winemaking that swirl and writhe seamlessly. Length and drive, finesse and power. Wondrous rich lines of grapefruit and stone fruit sewn together with taut filament and wrapped so gently,

 » Read more about: “An exquisite, benchmark wine” – 96 points | Regan Drew | Vino Notebook – Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

A layered and energetic Chardonnay from Tapanappa, this Piccadilly Valley comes from a cool and late vintage – the coolest of four successive cooler years from 2020.

Seeing a third new French oak, a creme brulee and caramel creaminess talks to me along with cashews and almonds. Glace pineapple, figs, yellow peaches and barbecued nectarines light things up along with a good dose of green apple.

 » Read more about: “Layered and energetic” – 94 points | Steve Leszczynski |QWineReviews – Tapanappa Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay 2023  »

And you thought the Tiers 1.5m was something special? Woah! This is a treat and then some. The Tiers from Tapanappa has quite rightly built itself a reputation over the years and this further cements its standing as one of the premier Chardonnays in Australia.

From the coolest of four consecutive cool vintages,

 » Read more about: “A treat and then some.” – 96 points | Steve Leszczynski |QWineReviews – Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

Lighty toasted cashewnut aroma, hints of vanilla and almond-meal, the palate refined and tense, concentrated and yet seamlessly textured and composed. The wine is very smooth and rounded, with plenty of acidity but you barely feel it. Lovely depth of flavour and balance. Nigh-invisible oak; long carry. Superb chardonnay.

96/100

 » Read more about: “Refined and tense, concentrated and yet seamlessly textured and composed”Intense, focused and bright” – 96 points | Huon Hooke | The Real Review – Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

Restrained straw/dried-herb aromas, the palate searingly intense with strong lemon/grapefruit flavours and lively acidity which is felt throughout the mouth. Intense, focused and bright on the tongue, super-refreshing and almost tangy, with a gorgeous fruit-sweet core and a cleansing, refreshing aftertaste.

95/100

 » Read more about: “Intense, focused and bright” – 95 points | Huon Hooke | The Real Review – Tapanappa Tiers 1.5 M Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

Finesse and purity all the way. The step up in class is evident compared to the Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay, this Tapanappa Tiers 1.5m is calming and stylish with a charismatic swagger.

It glides and sways with ease. The presence of the fruit is seamless in its combination with the oak, the highlight being the precise fusion with the acidity ensuring there is no start point or end point –

 » Read more about: “It’s just glorious Chardonnay.” – 96 points | Steve Leszczynski |QWineReviews – Tapanappa Tiers 1.5 M Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

The Tapanappa label is the result of a 40+ year mission of veteran winemaker Brian Croser and his family to make world-class wines from the most “distinguished sites” in South Australia. The Foggy Hill vineyard on the Fleurieu Peninsula might not be an obvious contender as a site for world-class pinot, but it delivers big time with this vibrant and spicy example of classic terroir-driven varietal character.

 » Read more about: “Impressive stuff”- 95 Points | Windsor Dobbin | WD Wine of The Week – Tapanappa Foggy Hill Pinot Noir 2022  »