Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay 2022

James Suckling Top 100 Wines of Australia 2023

Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW (Shaw & Smith) purchased the vineyard in 2011 after 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 are fully committed to seeing Tolpuddle Vineyard recognised as one of Australia's great single vineyards. 

"Another alluring Coal River chardonnay release from the folks at Tolpuddle. It's at once full and concentrated but is reined in by a tight framework of acidity, coiling on rails of minerality before powering across the palate. Tension and detail on point, light textural phenolic elements give it a sleek and silken mouthfeel. The wine displays a stony elegance and seriousness on the long finish. If we were to talk in hushed tones about what would constitute a Tasmanian Grand Cru chardonnay, the Tolpuddle would be the front-runner. Superb."  Dave Brookes

In 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.

"If ever a new winery was born with blue blood in its veins, Tolpuddle would have to be it."  James Halliday

"A strong but low yielding vintage for Chardonnay in 2022. On the nose, there is great purity, with florals, lemon, and lime notes. The palate has intensity and flavour but the personality of this wine is defined by its lightness, delicacy, and precision. It has excellent balance, with a crystalline character, fresh acid, and impressive persistence of flavour. The grapes were all hand picked, whole bunch pressed, and fermented in French oak. The wine spent nine months in barrel with gentle stirring as required, then rested in tank on lees."  Tolpuddle

Expert reviews

"Light bright yellow with a smoky, nutty, barrel fermented bouquet which also packs seaspray/oyster-shell, mixed spices and talcy aromas into the mix. In the mouth it's very intense and focused, tensioned and crisp, without strident acidity but lovely refreshing properties. A superb wine, quietly complex and penetrating, obviously barrel-fermented but not showing too-overt oak. The acidity is bright and refreshing and cleanses the aftertaste. Amazing length. Magical stuff. Drink 2023-2037."  Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 98 points

"Another alluring Coal River chardonnay release from the folks at Tolpuddle. It's at once full and concentrated but is reined in by a tight framework of acidity, coiling on rails of minerality before powering across the palate. Tension and detail on point, light textural phenolic elements give it a sleek and silken mouthfeel. The fruit tones of white peach, nectarine and citrus are cloaked in soft spice, white floral tones, struck match, almond paste and crushed stone and the wine displays a stony elegance and seriousness on the long finish. If we were to talk in hushed tones about what would constitute a Tasmanian Grand Cru chardonnay, the Tolpuddle would be the front-runner. Superb. Drink by 2034."  Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion - 98 points and Special Value Wine  ★ 

"Strap in folks because you’re about to be schooled on cool climate Chardonnay for the ages. This is one of the most talked about Australian Chardonnay’s and whether you like, love or totally FROTH on this wine (hi that’s me) it’s hard to deny its superb pedigree. In the coolest vintage since inception and the 2022 is strutting its stuff, but unlike the showy overt Chardonnays Australia can sometimes produce, this is an artwork of precision. I mean, what can I say that hasn’t already been said? It’s just so bloody scintillating. White nectarine, creamy custard apple, lemon juice squirting from its wedge. Shale and shucked oyster shell, soft meringue peaks and raw Marcona almonds. It’s laser focus line of acidity is ethereal, and the flavour length is what the great wines of the world are made of. It’s a firework of Chardonnay flavour, in fact it’s the waterfall at Sydney’s New Years Eve midnight show. I’ll toast to that. Drink now and if you can get more it will cellar well for up to 10 years. Drink: 2023-2033."  Shanteh Wale, The Wine Front - 98 points

"It’s compact and tense, precise and poised. It tastes fancy from hello and asserts a strong riff of chardonnay’s best assets of green apple, briny acidity, savoury-nutty undertows with a slick of cedary, spicy, cinnamon-meets-clove oak seasoning well measured into it all. Spicy, indeed, refreshing in that way and coolness with a sense of exceptionally judged, just-ripe fruit rippling with authority through the wine. It’s a persistent wine, immensely satisfying with each sip staining the palate gently. Inherently complex, gulpable with drinkability, wonderfully evocative of a cool place. A brilliant, crystalline chardonnay expression on hand. Drink: 2023 - 2030+."  Mike Bennie, The Wine Front - 96+ points 

"Always a very good chardonnay. Often among the New World's best. This said, it is always a pungent, flinty reductive iteration, considerably different to the more generous norm in these parts. Medium-bodied and typically taut, reeling off truffle, leesy oatmeal and white peach notes across a tautly furled, almost gritty climax of praline and hazelnut accents. This will age exceptionally well. Drink or hold. Screw cap."  Ned Goodwin MW, JamesSuckling.com - 96 points and Top 100 Wines of Australia 2023

Awards

James Suckling Top 100 Wines of Australia 2023
Special Value Wine – Halliday Wine Companion  ★ 

About the winery

Tolpuddle Vineyard was established in 1988 by Bill Casimaty, Gary Crittenden and Tony Jordan and 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. 

Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW (Shaw & Smith) purchased the vineyard in 2011 after 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 are fully committed to seeing Tolpuddle Vineyard recognised as one of Australia's great single vineyards. 

In 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.