Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay 2023 (1500ml)

James Suckling Top 100 Wines of Australia 2024
Trophy, Best Chardonnay - 2024 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards
Trophy, Best Young White - 2024 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards
Trophy, Best Tasmanian Chardonnay - 2024 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards

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. 

"The 2022 vintage will be a very hard act to follow, I tell myself, as I brace for disappointment. And then it hits like a vampire smelling its prey, pupils dilate and I am utterly captivated. Perfectly ripe lemons, peach sorbet and fresh linen billowing on the hills hoist. But the fruit, oh the fruit reins supreme! It tickles the corners of your palate just where it should. Provides ample natural acidity and clean young almond milk creaminess on the finish. There is shale and river stone and the under current of not quite fathomable things, all at work to make you beg for another glass. The magic of the Tolpuddle vineyard is real. Drink with prawn Har Gow dumplings and die happy."  Shanteh Wale

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

"Lifted aromas of orange blossom and white jasmine are hallmarks of a cooler season. The palate is powerful, layered and textured with grapefruit, lemon pith and minerality. Low yield flavour intensity is balanced with electric acidity. Our coolest season on record. The pristine fruit was hand-picked, whole bunch pressed, and fermented in French oak. The wine spent ten months in barrel with gentle stirring as required, then rested in tank on lees for a further four months."  Tolpuddle

Expert reviews

"It seems a gross understatement to say that Tolpuddle has been in fine form as of late, but they have knocked it out the park again with this release from the cooler '23 vintage. The palest of straw in the glass, the aromas crisp and filigreed. Citrus, white peach and nectarine cut with glorious wisps of struck match and flinty complexity. Grilled hazelnuts, deftly-judged vanillin oak, lardo, white flowers, crushed riverstone, clotted cream and sea spray. The wine envelops the imbiber; flavours precise and pure with an umami-rich, mineral cadence, dreamy texture and daubs of spiced oatmeal, grilled peaches and flint. The finish is sustained, the only thing unresolved the need for another (larger?) bottle. An outstanding Australian chardonnay. Drink by 2032."  Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion - 98 points and Special Value Wine  ★ 

"The 2022 vintage will be a very hard act to follow, I tell myself, as I brace for disappointment. And then it hits like a vampire smelling its prey, pupils dilate and I am utterly captivated. Perfectly ripe lemons, peach sorbet and fresh linen billowing on the hills hoist. Whipped meringue cream, honeysuckle and bee pollen. Oak? What oak, yes it is there, with arches of cinnamon, fresh sawdust and hazelnut praline. But the fruit, oh the fruit reins supreme! It tickles the corners of your palate just where it should. Provides ample natural acidity and clean young almond milk creaminess on the finish. There is shale and river stone and the under current of not quite fathomable things, all at work to make you beg for another glass. With two wines that are so totally convincing, the magic of the Tolpuddle vineyard is real. Drink with prawn Har Gow dumplings and die happy."  Shanteh Wale, Wine Pilot - 98 points

"Sophisticated and polished aromas of flint, stone fruit, lemon curd and beeswax. The palate is medium-bodied with a creamy texture that is cut through with a laser-like acidity, giving notes of grapefruit rind, shortbread, orange blossoms and chalk. Exceptional poise and balance with underlying tension coming from a cool vintage. Drink or hold. Screw cap."  James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com - 97 points and Top 100 Wines of Australia 2024

"Bright medium-light yellow colour; smoky charcuterie, struck flint and toasted hazelnuts to sniff. The wine is intense, focused and very long on the palate. Piercing lemon/citrus flavours, fresh and balanced acidity driving it long and promising a big future if cellared, although it's a great drink right now. An outstanding chardonnay. Drink 2024-2038."  Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 97 points

2024 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards - 97 points

"Killer release of Tolpuddle Chardonnay. This gets down to business in no uncertain terms. It shows citrus and pineapple characters as flashes but its heart is all stonefruit, yellow apple, flint and smoked cedarwood. The effect is powerful, the persona is elegant. This is a wine of long lines and texture like satin. There’s a brine-and-tonic-like twist to the aftertaste but then every time I lifted the glass I saw or appreciated something new; it has more twists than Oliver. Basically, it’s a gorgeous release.  Drink: 2026-2032+."  Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front – 96 points

"Pale colour. Intense and fresh ripe nectarine, white peach aromas with honey/ marzipan notes. Richly flavoured and generous wine with ample stonefruit, grilled nut notes, fine chalky textures, lovely creamy mid-palate and fresh long mineral acidity. A hint of butterscotch at the finish. Delicious and expressive chardonnay with a retro-modern taste that will not disappoint. Drink now – 2027."  Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal - 96 points

Awards

James Suckling Top 100 Wines of Australia 2024
Trophy, Best Chardonnay - 2024 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards
Trophy, Best Young White - 2024 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards
Trophy, Best Tasmanian Chardonnay - 2024 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards
Special Value Wine – Halliday Wine Companion  ★ 
Gold Medal & 97/100 points - 2024 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards
Gold Medal – 2024 Royal Queensland Wine Awards
Gold Medal - 2024 International Wine & Spirits Awards

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.