Tolpuddle Chardonnay

Wine Description

Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay reflects the cool maritime climate of Tasmania's Coal River Valley, and the site itself is gently sloping, north-east facing, with light silica over sandstone.  The result is a fine and precise Chardonnay with a backbone of firm acidity, and a combination of lightness of texture, and intensity of flavor.

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Acclaim
“Pale, green-tinged yellow. Fresh honeydew, Meyer lemon, pear and toasted brioche on the highly perfumed, mineral-accented nose. Bright and penetrating in the mouth, offering densely packed yet nervy citrus and orchard fruit flavors braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Shows really impressive energy and minerally bite on the clinging finish, which features a sexy floral quality and a hint of oyster shell.”
— Vinous, Sep 2022
“Hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed, fermented in French oak barrels with limited stirring. The bouquet and palate send the same message of perfectly captured white stone fruits, then apple and grapefruit. An irresistible wine with spectacular length.” (Best of Chardonnay, 2021 Halliday Wine Companion Awards)
— James Halliday, Aug 2020
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Tolpuddle Vineyard
Vineyard size
50 acres
Soil composition
Light Silica over Sandstone
Training method
Guyot VSP
Elevation:
132 - 198 feet
Vines/acre:
1,110 - 1,515
Yield/acre:
2.4 tons
Exposure:
Northeastern
Year vineyard planted:
1988
Harvest time:
March - April
First vintage of this wine:
2012
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Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
100% Chardonnay
Fermentation container:
Barrels
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
15 days
Fermentation temperature:
68 °F
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes - 100%
Type of aging container:
Barriques and Barrels
Size of aging container:
228L - 500L
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
9 months
Age of Aging Container:
New to 3 years
Length of bottle aging:
8 months
Total SO2
128
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.1
Acidity:
6.7 g/L
Alcohol:
13 %
Total SO2
128
Residual sugar:
0.5 g/L
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Wine Production

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.

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About the Vineyard

Tolpuddle Vineyard is an outstanding site within the Coal River Valley region. Planted in 1988 solely to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the vineyard takes its name from the Tolpuddle Martyrs, whose “reward” for starting England’s first agrarian union was to be transported to Tasmania as convicts.

Since acquiring the vineyard in 2011, Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith have invested heavily in improving all aspects of the vineyard and they are fully committed to seeing it recognised as one of Australia’s great single vineyard sites.