Tapanappa Tiers 1.5m Vineyard Chardonnay 2025
- 96
- $90
- Drink by: 2026-2036
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Brian Croser has noted the 2025 vintage as the warmest, driest and earliest in his career, a career which stretches back for more than fifty years. However, any concerns that his iconic Chardonnays from the Tiers Vineyard would not reflect the typicity that they have come to enjoy over many years has been put to rest. The section of the Tiers Vineyard which was replanted in 2003 on 1.5 metre spacing ripens earlier than the older vines, the reminder of the Tiers. Fermentation was in French oak barriques, 1/3rd of them new. The wine was then left on lees before bottling. 575 dozen made. The colour is a shimmering yellow gold. The nose reveals ripe, full flavours of stone fruits, with nectarines, peaches, hints of honeycomb and hazelnuts, florals and jasmine. There is noticeable oak but integration is proceeding well. The wine has superb balance and real intensity with great persistence. It will surely still be providing immense pleasure in a decade. Love it.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
