{"product_id":"tolpuddle-vineyard-chardonnay-2017","title":"Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay 2017","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTrophy for Best Chardonnay - 2018 Royal Melbourne Wine Show\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTrophy for Best Single Vineyard Wine - 2018 Royal Melbourne Wine Show\u003cbr\u003eTrophy for Best Young White Wine - 2018 Royal Melbourne Wine Show\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJames Suckling Top 100 Wines of Australia 2018\u003cbr\u003eJames Halliday Top 100 Wines of 2018\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMartin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW (Shaw \u0026amp; Smith) purchased the vineyard in 2011\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eafter a look-and-see jaunt to Tasmania when they became smitten by Tolpuddle's Coal Valley location and mature vines, planted only to pinot noir and chardonnay. They a\u003c\/span\u003ere fully committed to seeing Tolpuddle Vineyard recognised as one of Australia's great single vineyards. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Amazing colour and all-round freshness; it barely looks older than the 2024 alongside it. Super-complex bouquet of lemon butter, beeswax and buttered toast, roasted hazelnut emerging; the palate is refined and intense, powerful and delicate at the same time, with great refinement and piercing line that runs very long on the aftertaste. A great chardonnay indeed, with many years still ahead of it.\"  Huon Hooke (Tasted Aug 2025)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn barely a decade, Tolpuddle has established itself as one of the country's top producers. It produces wines of blistering precision and finesse which have received rave critical acclaim. They are highly sought-after and are some of the finest examples of chardonnay and pinot noir that can be found anywhere on the Apple Isle.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"If ever a new winery was born with blue blood in its veins, Tolpuddle would have to be it.\"  James Halliday\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eExpert reviews\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"This is one of Australia's most exciting vineyards. Many Tasmanian chardonnay producers struggle in managing acidity, Tolpuddle simply makes it an essential part of the wine, serving to highlight the nectarine, white peach and grapefruit flavours. Likewise, oak is an incidental part, delicately framing the fruit. Drink by 2032.\"  \u003cstrong\u003eJames Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion - 98 points and Top 100 Wines of 2018 and Special Value Wine  \u003cspan style=\"color: #f9e00c;\"\u003e★\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cspan\u003ePlanted in 1988 and named after the Tolpuddle Martyrs who grew beer hops on the Coal River Valley vineyard, which now makes one of Australia’s most thrillingly mineral, tightly coiled Chardonnays. Mouthwatering flavours of whetstone, struck match, steely grapefruit and nectarine ricochet energetically all the way to the back palate. Great line and length. Drinking Window 2019 - 2027.\u003c\/span\u003e\"  \u003cstrong\u003eDavid Sly, Decanter – 98 points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e \u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eJasper Morris, Inside Burgundy - 98 points\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Amazing colour and all-round freshness; it barely looks older than the 2024 alongside it. Super-complex bouquet of lemon butter, beeswax and buttered toast, roasted hazelnut emerging; the palate is refined and intense, powerful and delicate at the same time, with great refinement and piercing line that runs very long on the aftertaste. A great chardonnay indeed, with many years still ahead of it. \u003cspan\u003eDrink: 2025-2032.\"  \u003cstrong\u003eHuon Hooke, The Real Review - 97 points  (Tasted Aug 2025)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"What a nose of chalk, crushed stones, slate, vanilla, spices, honeysuckle, sliced apples, quince, dried sage, thyme and a ton of freshly squeezed lemons and limes. The palate’s very edgy with a taut line of acidity, but it fits in so well the stone fruit and flora undertones. Clarity, precision and focus that matches up to any top Grand Cru Burgundy. Not for the faint of heart but the fearless. Drink now or hold.\"  What a nose of chalk, crushed stones, slate, vanilla, spices, honeysuckle, sliced apples, quince, dried sage, thyme and a ton of freshly squeezed lemons and limes. The palate’s very edgy with a taut line of acidity, but it fits in so well the stone fruit and flora undertones. Clarity, precision and focus that matches up to any top Grand Cru Burgundy. Not for the faint of heart but the fearless. Drink now or hold.\"  \u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling, \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling.com – 97 points and Top 100 Wines of Australia 2018\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cspan\u003eThe 2017 growing season was low yielding but very good, and the savory power here in this glass of 2017 Chardonnay is a thing to behold. It is firmer and more structural than the other wines around it and shows a splay of interwoven phenolics and fruit through the finish that balances the aromatics and the flavors in the mouth, with curry leaf, brine, almond meal, red apple skins, preserved lemon and nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, star anise and fennel flower. Yes!\u003c\/span\u003e Drink: 2022-2037.\"\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e  Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate - 97 points (Tasted Dec 2022)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cspan\u003eLime, ruby red grapefruit, almond, some green herb character. Light but delivering plenty of juicy flavour and flinty crunch, green olive, fine-boned, good energy and zesty feel. Subtle cheesy savoury elements, lime and rind on a long and chalky finish. Better again with a couple of years on it, as they tend to be.\u003c\/span\u003e Drink: 2021-2030+.\"  \u003cstrong\u003eGary Walsh, The Wine Front – 95+ points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAwards\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTrophy for Best Chardonnay - 2018 Royal Melbourne Wine Show\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTrophy for Best Single Vineyard Wine - 2018 Royal Melbourne Wine Show\u003cbr\u003eTrophy for Best Young White Wine - 2018 Royal Melbourne Wine Show\u003cbr\u003eJames Suckling Top 100 Wines of Australia 2018\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eJames Halliday Top 100 Wines of 2018\u003cbr\u003eSpecial Value Wine – Halliday Wine Companion  \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f9e00c;\"\u003e★\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003eAbout the winery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0642\/3098\/1873\/files\/Tolpuddle_1024x1024.png?v=1667374621\" alt=\"Tolpuddle vineyard\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003eTolpuddle Vineyard was established in 1988\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003eby Bill Casimaty, Gary Crittenden and Tony Jordan \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003eand it took its name from the Tolpuddle Martyrs: English convicts transported to Tasmania for forming an agricultural union. The leader of the Martyrs, George Loveless, served some of his sentence working on a property near Richmond, part of which is now Tolpuddle Vineyard. The vineyard is planted with mature Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines, facing north-east, and sloping gently up from Back Tea Tree Road. The soil is light silica over sandstone and of moderate vigour, ensuring well-balanced vines producing grapes of great flavour and intensity. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003eMartin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW (Shaw \u0026amp; Smith) purchased the vineyard in 2011 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003eafter a look-and-see jaunt to Tasmania when they became smitten by Tolpuddle's Coal Valley location and mature vines, planted only to pinot noir and chardonnay. They a\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003ere fully committed to seeing Tolpuddle Vineyard recognised as one of Australia's great single vineyards. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003eIn barely a decade, Tolpuddle has established itself as one of the country's top producers. It produces wines of blistering precision and finesse which have received rave critical acclaim. They are highly sought-after and are some of the finest examples of chardonnay and pinot noir that can be found anywhere on the Apple Isle.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(128, 128, 128);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"\u003eThe following text is taken from an article by Jasper Morris that appeared in Inside Burgundy\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0642\/3098\/1873\/files\/Tolpuddle_2_480x480.png?v=1774503602\" style=\"margin-right: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; float: left;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat began as reconnaissance for Shaw and Hill Smith back in 2011 quickly metamorphosed into profound intrigue thanks in large part to a dinner with industry friends. In this case, it was at the Launceston institution of Stillwater in northern Tasmania with Andrew Pirie – a legend of Tasmanian wine – and veteran winemaker Peter Dawson. The ever-academic Pirie referred to his laptop as he apprised the table of Tasmania’s climatic mapping and data. This was critical information as it informed the pair of just how dry the Coal River Valley was, having made the common assumption that cool equalled wet. The combination of cool and dry added to the allure on account of the long ripening period with slow flavour development and low disease pressure during the growing season. Following some good bottles over dinner, including several from Tasmania, Dawson piqued further interest by declaring that \"Tasmania would be making Australia’s best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir within the next decade\". \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"We’ve got to have this\" were the collective words uttered by cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW upon entry to the Tolpuddle Vineyard site in 2011. The intangible knowing. The feeling in the bones. But what led them down the right path? \"We had no intention of buying a vineyard\", says Shaw 14 years on as we amble the long, even, north-east facing slope. It’s an idyllic and resplendent blue sky day in the Coal River Valley, around 30 minutes’ drive north east of Hobart. And despite the moderate 25 degree heat, there’s a bite to the bright sunshine on account of the clear skies, low humidity and high UV of southern Tasmania.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShaw’s casual utterance speaks to the impulsive and serendipitous nature of their Tolpuddle Vineyard purchase, and it’s difficult to fathom how easily it could’ve been missed given the indelible mark it’s made on Tasmanian – indeed Australian – wine.  This was during a time when Tasmanian Chardonnay and Pinot Noir was starting to make waves on the Australian wine media circuit, such that it prompted a reconnaissance trip south from the Shaw + Smith stables in the Adelaide Hills where the two had risen to vinous fame. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"The Coal River Valley is cold but dry\", continues Shaw, \"it’s cooler than Burgundy but warmer than Champagne\". The dryness is evident. There’s been little rain in the Valley for months now which is normal given Tasmania’s winter-dominant rainfall. However, this is compounded in the Coal River Valley by a rain shadow effect thanks to the mountains to the west, making it one of the driest regions on the island.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFurther visits ensued, including a pivotal one to Accolade-owned Bay of Fires, where then-winemaker Peter Dredge presented barrel samples from vineyards across Tasmania that supplied fruit to Accolade. The wines that excited the pair most came from the Tolpuddle Vineyard which Accolade were using for premium offerings such as Eileen Hardy Chardonnay and House of Arras sparkling wines. The culmination of this was the all-important visit to the site that captured the two so viscerally.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe potential for greatness in a table wine capacity was evident to Shaw and Hill Smith – the forest above, the water below, the long and even Burgundian-like slope in between. What’s more, the valley’s cool climate provided insulation from the looming threats of global warming. With their eyes squarely on the prize, the two set about negotiating acquisition of a site not for sale and – spoiler alert – were quick to succeed. But changes were required to take the site in the desired direction. Certain sparkling-specific clones were replaced with more suitable alternatives, pruning was changed from spur to cane, drainage was improved, frost protection was implemented via a new dam (after having been assured frost wasn’t part of the program!) and mid-row soil was ripped to alleviate compaction. With soils made up of light silica over sandstone, water retention is poor, so composting was implemented upon taking over the site along with undervine clover to keep things cool and assist in holding moisture - critical in this dry terroir. Following further plantings, the vineyard is now 31 hectares with an approximate 50\/50 split between Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAround the time of the Tolpuddle Vineyard purchase, Shaw and Hill Smith had been trying to entice star winemaker Adam Wadewitz to join the Shaw + Smith team. Wadewitz was winemaker at Best’s Great Western in Victoria at the time, and it was the prospect of working with fruit from the Tolpuddle Vineyard that is said to have sealed the deal. With the inaugural 2012 wines made by Martin Shaw, Wadewitz took over from the 2013 vintage and has excelled with the site ever since.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Chardonnay is whole bunch pressed, fermented in French barriques and generally sees 100% malolactic fermentation given the bracing southern-Tasmanian acidity. It then spends nine or ten months in barrel with around 30% new. Pinot Noir sees around 30% to 40% whole bunch and around ten months in barriques with 30-35% of it new.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Canterbury Wines","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47815311720689,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0642\/3098\/1873\/files\/Tolpuddle-Vineyard-Chardonnay-2017.jpg?v=1776045584","url":"https:\/\/canterburywines.au\/products\/tolpuddle-vineyard-chardonnay-2017","provider":"Canterbury Wines","version":"1.0","type":"link"}