Recognition

Medium-light straw hue. Straw bale, grapefruit flesh, smoked chicken meatiness, tonic, peanut oil, lemon barley before richer and riper stone fruit, quince, white choc/coconut ball, balsa wood, dried fig and café latte creaminess. A wine of power and presence. Texturally sublime, with the winemaking supplying a fine drivetrain for the long, persistent flavours. The vintage showing its hand with bigger than usual ripe peach fruit while retaining an unexpected sharp and long thrust of potent acidity.

 » Read more about: “A wine of power and presence” 93 Points | Regan Drew | Vino Notebook  »

The 2025 vintage in the Adelaide Hills is the warmest, driest and earliest vintage on record, certainly providing a change and a challenge for the winemakers. That said, early indications are that it will provide excellent wines, although in its own image. The vines used here are in excess of forty years of age, making them some of the oldest in the region.

 » Read more about: “Rich and ripe, there is some serious length here with a fine line of acidity” 94 Points | Ken Gargett | Wine Pilot  »

There’s flavour in the acidity and pear, grapefruit, lemonade and white peach flavours are delivered generously throughout. There’s no mistaking the variety; this is chardonnay to its core. There’s a minerally edge to the back half of the wine and an impression of saltbush or seaspray too. There is some warmth but flavour, throughout and on the finish,

 » Read more about: “There’s no mistaking the variety; this is Chardonnay to its core” 92 Points | Campbell Mattison | The Wine Front  »

Made by veteran wine industry guru Brian Croser from fruit grown in a 40+-years-old vineyard in the Adelaide Hills, this is a chardonnay that neatly straddles power and precision. From a warm, dry year, the grapes were picked earlier than ever before but the fruit miraculously retained high acid levels. The end result is a riper,

 » Read more about: “Smart winemaking has resulted in brightness and texture” Winsor Dobbin | Winsor’s Choice  »

A superb Chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills, from a fine vintage, which saw time, through to October 2024, in French oak barriques, a third of which were new. A bright lemon hue here, the nose exhibits notes of citrus, notably grapefruit, chalk, spices, figs and lemon curd. At the finish, there is even a flick of orange rind.

 » Read more about: “A superb Chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills” 93 Points | Ken Gargett | Wine Pilot  »

The Tapanappa 2024 Piccadilly Chardonnay sits third in the pecking order of the Tapanappa chardonnay range: behind the complex duo of the Tiers Chardonnay and 1.5m Tiers Chardonnay. While that duo are destined for the long haul, this is more immediately accessible; and downright delectable on its release. It is made from grapes grown on three distinguished vineyards planted by Brian Croser in the Adelaide Hills back in the 1980s.

 » Read more about: “Lovely balance here. Terrific length, too” Winsor Dobbin | Winsor’s Choice  »

I always love Brian (Croser)’s notes that come with every Tapanappa wine, especially the details on weather and vintage. A grape nerd’s delight! 2024 has a ‘near perfect’ label in the Piccadilly Valley from Brian with a head degree summation of 1194°C days versus 1108°C days average. Low crops in 2024 (4t/ha if you’re counting).

 » Read more about: “There’s the solid grapefruit and citrus core, with everything in perfect position” 94 Points | Andrew Graham | Oz Wine Review  »

Instantly Tapanappa with this second label wine too – something about the golden white peach fruit that makes this a Croser-influenced label. Definitely some of the old Petaluma Chardonnay about this wine too – it feels golden and open, the fruit still with a grapefruit acid-shaped profile, but with sunny white and yellow ripe peach layered on top.

 » Read more about: “It feels golden and open” 92 Points | Andrew Graham | Oz Wine Review  »

One of the great Chardonnay makers worldwide, Tapanappa manages to craft something delicious from the greatest sites in Adelaide Hills year after year. Toasty aromatics entice, while the palate indulges with initial notes of caramel and pencil shaving, then comes some peach, followed by intense and lingering citrus freshness, with lime juice and lemon zest bringing a cleansing finish to what is a Chardonnay leaning towards a taut style but,

 » Read more about: “Toasty aromatics entice, while the palate indulges” GOLD MEDAL, CHARDONNAY MASTERS 2025 | Patrick Schmitt MW | The Drinks Business  »

A very refined nose, with crisp lemon and bright grapefruit zest, overlaid with oak spice. The palate has a bracing tension and textural interest, with freshness and balance, plus focused fruit with elegance and length. Well-integrated, beautifully balanced and deliciously long. 

GOLD MEDAL

 » Read more about: “Well-integrated, beautifully balanced and deliciously long.” GOLD MEDAL, CHARDONNAY MASTERS 2025 | Siobhan Turner MW | The Drinks Business  »

Campfire, rosemary and black cherry aromas lead into a fine and flavoursome core that glides nicely across the palate. The tannins are fine and slinky, though by no means a pushover. Its flavours are more on the savoury side, offering a lovely play on earth, smoke, spice and tangy red berries.

92 Points

 » Read more about: “A lovely play on earth, smoke, spice and tangy red berries” 92 Points | Gabrielle Poy | The Real Review  »

With its pristine aromatics and dry, lightly textured, savoury finish, the Tapanappa Eden Valley Riesling makes for great drinking now or over the medium term. Pale in the glass with a flash of green and aromas of fresh lime juice, grapefruit and green apple. Hints of Christmas lily, jasmine, crushed quartz, lime zest and lemongrass.

 » Read more about: “Linear and long, showing a finely honed tension between limey fruit and mineral acid cadence” 95 Points | Dave Brookes | Halliday Wine Companion  »

A riot of rosemary, tomato leaf, freshly turned earth, black and red cherry compote on the nose leads into an intense and suave core. A scaffolding of fine tannins provides structure for the pitch perfect black and red berries and savoury tones. Its assured framework and depth of flavour ensure this will age nicely, although its youthful nervosity charms right now.

 » Read more about: “Pitch perfect black and red berries and savoury tones” 93 Points | Gabrielle Poy | The Real Review  »

The 2021 Tapanappa Cabernet Merlot Franc blend is an unusual expression from the vineyard, due to the low-yielding vintage. There is a seamless display of opulent Cabernet Sauvignon aromas with layers of black olive, graphite and spice from the other varieties that are beautifully integrated. Excellent volume of flavour to follow, sharpened by firm acidity before delivering a lengthy,

 » Read more about: “There is an attractive approachability to this vintage as well as significant ageing potential.” 96 Points | Angus Hughson, Andrew Caillard MW & Lisa Cardelli | Vintage Journal | SA Wine Guide  »

I feel like I should curtsey before drinking this wine. What a treat. Such elegance. Such restraint. Green papaya, yellow grapefruit and Geraldton wax. It’s timeless – the only thing unsophisticated about this wine is me drinking it. The palate is pure, detailed and tensioned. Decant before drinking, or tuck some away for when you grow up.

 » Read more about: “I’ll taste it in my dreams. A great wine, and an honour to drink.” 95 Points | Tony Love & Cyndal Petty | Vintage Journal | SA Wine Guide  »

A wine that might make you impulsively hug your sommelier – this Chardonnay has no worries in the world. It breezes through life with pomelo, spiced key lime pie and candle wax. It carries an arsenal of concentration and power – restrained but undeniable, like a superhero trying not to bend the cutlery. The palate is generous,

 » Read more about: “A wine to die for, with a finish that refuses to.” 96 Points | Tony Love & Cyndal Petty | Vintage Journal | SA Wine Guide  »

Yum. It makes me sit back and smile. Sticky oranges, beeswax and lime sherbet. It’s elegant and playful; detailed and effortless. The fruit is pure and concentrated, never overpowered by winery antics. Clever. The acid is fresh and framing, bringing lightness to the wine’s density. The mid-palate is intense, textured and layered. It finishes long,

 » Read more about: “Yum. It makes me sit back and smile.” 95 Points | Tony Love & Cyndal Petty | Vintage Journal | SA Wine Guide  »

Classic Pinot colour – mid-crimson to ruby scarlet, with touchstone varietal aromas, poached cherry with woody spices, a quintessential Pinot sensory attraction. That bushy spice feel finds an extra cedar-like gear in the palate, urged on by deftly weighted cherry and red plum fruit flavours, tightened in the finish with neatly integrated tannins. Everything fits together for an engaging expression of the variety and its southern coastal site.

 » Read more about: “Everything fits together for an engaging expression of the variety and its southern coastal site.” 95 Points | Vintage Journal | SA Wine Guide  »

An elite Pinot release from Brian Croser’s Foggy Hill Vineyard, here from a cooler year which defines the structure and flavour within. Its colour is all about cherry skin, aroma exuding the same fruit notes with an enticing floral note, fragrant spring blossoms. In the palate there’s a more grounded kitchen herbal thread of flavours – savoury thyme and oregano,

 » Read more about: “An elite Pinot release from Brian Croser’s Foggy Hill Vineyard.” 96 Points | Vintage Journal | SA Wine Guide  »

After twenty-two years, Tapanappa’s Foggy Hill Vineyard might be in peak form.

This is a site that Brian Croser has passionately believed in for crafting great South Australian Pinot Noir, even if it’s a part of the world (the Fleurieu Peninsula) that is anything but a heralded region for Pinot. The progression of the wines is there too,

 » Read more about: Wrestling with the most atypical Foggy Hill Pinot Noir yet (and more Tapanappa releases) – Andrew Graham | Australian Wine & Drinks Review  »

The Foggy Hill vineyard was planted in 2003 to a pair of Dijon clones, 115 and 777. The centre slope here is known as the Definitus Block and is harvested separately as experience has shown that these grapes have greater fruit intensity. The fruit was destemmed and no whole bunches were included for this vintage.

 » Read more about: “Immaculately balanced and exhibiting superb length” 96 Points | Ken Gargett | Wine Pilot  »

2024 was a difficult vintage for Brian Croser and his team at the Foggy Hill vineyard. The conditions meant it would be one of the very smallest crops he has encountered in his long and illustrious career. Limited might be but the quality of the fruit certainly helped make up for the meagre yield. For this vintage,

 » Read more about: “A cracking Pinot Noir” 95 Points | Ken Gargett | Wine Pilot  »

The 2024 Pinot Noir Foggy Hill Vineyard leads with a dusty nose of dried flowers, pan-roasted spices, mahogany cupboard and aged leather. Cherry seeds also abound. In the mouth, the wine is lean and spicy, with a waxy splay of fine tannin through the finish. The wine is uncomplicated and red-fruited, with savory spices to close.

 » Read more about: “Lean and spicy, with a waxy splay of fine tannin through the finish” 90 Points | Erin Larkin | Wine Advocate  »

Though its use on our labels has long been banished, you’ll still hear wine types of a certain age pine for “claret”. It’s partly nostalgia, and partly a projection, wondering what the future holds for medium-bodied Australian blends built from Bordeaux varieties. Brian Croser is old enough to remember the glory days, and visionary enough to see where such wines should be headed.

 » Read more about: “Mulberries, black cherries, plums and a splash of fragrant spice, the whole lot cuddled by deft oak and fine-grained tannins.” 95 Points | Nick Ryan | The Australian Wine | TOP 100 WINES OF 2025  »