In the Piccadilly Valley, the coolest and wettest subregion of the Adelaide Hills wine region, lies the Adelaide Hills’ oldest vineyard, The Tiers.
Planted by Tapanappa’s winemaker and owner Brian Croser 44 years ago, the vineyard occupies a central, tree surrounded ‘Clos’ like location, which provides a perfect terroir for Chardonnay.
In 2003, to give insurance against a phylloxera incursion, a decision was made to pull out the first 1.1 hectares of the OF clone Chardonnay and to replant on the closer 1.5mX1.5m spacing with the French Chardonnay clones 95 and 76 on rootstock.
The new block, now 20-years-old, has produced a different expression of the Tiers Chardonnay terroir, still definitively Tiers. Because of the clones and rootstocks, the 1.5mX1.5m ripens earlier with a richer Tiers expression than the ‘old block’. So, whilst the ‘old block’ Chardonnay is a refined and shy, the 1.5M Chardonnay is forward and expressive.
“When I planted this novel vineyard in 2003, I had a “mind’s eye” expectation of the style of wine we would produce from them. The vineyard has defied that expectation by producing wines that are different from all others of their genre. It is distinctly and uniquely Tiers 1.5M Chardonnay”. said Brian Croser
Now, during Chardonnay May in the Adelaide Hills, gives the team at Tapanappa an opportunity to open the creaking museum cellar door, fight through the cobwebs and select some precious remnants of previous Tiers 1.5M vintages to share with you.
There are many attributes that define great Chardonnay (freshness, intensity, complexity, texture, balance) but the greatest test of all is longevity. Brian has chosen five wines from the Piccadilly home site- three diverse vintages of the Tiers Vineyard 1.5M Chardonnay alongside two Tiers Chardonnays, to demonstrate that despite widely varying temperatures during the growing season, the Tiers unique expression of Chardonnay holds its form and is always recognisably Tiers Chardonnay.
These five wines will be tasted in a special Chardonnay May flight, on offer for the duration of May. For $50, you can sample these five featured wines, accompanied by a small tasting plate.
Even with three tastings every day of May, they are sure to fill up quick making bookings essential. To book, head to their website to select your day and time.
Where: Tapanappa Wines, 15 Spring Gully Road, Piccadilly
When: 1-31st of May
Booking times: 11am, 1pm and 3pm, 7 days a week.
The Chardonnay flights include:
- 2007 – Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay (warm moderate vintage)
- 2019 – 1.5M Vineyard (warm dry vintage)
- 2020 – 1.5M Vineyard (cool vintage)
- 2022 – 1.5M Vineyard (cool vintage)
- 2022 – Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay (cool vintage)
