Tiers Vineyard 1.5 M 2022

This cuvée comes from the Tiers Vineyard, in the cool Piccadilly Valley, in the heart of the Adelaide Hills in South Australia. It is made from a 1.3-hectare plot replanted to Chardonnay in 2003 at very high density, with rows just 1.5 metres apart. This distinct section of the estate, harvested later than average, yields particularly concentrated grapes and a distinctive expression of the Piccadilly Valley terroir.

The Chardonnay grapes are harvested by hand, then chilled to 2 °C before gentle whole-bunch pressing in a pneumatic press. The juice is first settled in tank, then transferred by gravity to French barriques, one third of them new, where fermentation takes place over two months in cool autumn conditions. The wine then rests on full lees in barrel for about eight months before racking and bottling.

This wine reveals notes of white peach, nectarine, yellow grapefruit, candied lemon, melon, dry honey, brioche, nougat, roasted almond, vanilla, cinnamon and gunflint. The palate combines a broad, satiny texture with incisive freshness, carried by lively acidity and a mineral thread. The long, energetic finish tightens around citrus, sweet spices and a fine smoky touch.

Australia began making wine more than two centuries ago. The result is a country rich in old vines, multi-generational winemaking families and a deep-rooted knowledge of and respect for craftsmanship. Add to that a thirst for exploration and innovation, a fearless attitude and a varied portfolio of 65 wine regions across many climates, and you have the makings of an extraordinary wine country like few others. Australia burst onto export markets in the 1980s and has since offered the whole world vibrant, fruity wines of exceptional value. Until the late 1990s and early 2000s, the story of Australian wine was dominated by over-concentrated examples of Shiraz, Grenache and red blends. Between these two extremes lies the diversity of Australia's high-quality and regional wines, which has always existed. Australian viticulture is mainly concentrated along the southern ocean fringe, where conditions are cooler. There are four main wine regions, located around the major cities: Western Australia around Perth, South Australia around Adelaide, Victoria around Melbourne and New South Wales around Sydney. The country is one of the world's largest wine producers and was the 4th largest exporter in the world in 2011. This recent development has made Australia one of the most prominent countries today for the quality of its wines. You can taste Australian wines all over the country. Each Australian region has its own grape varieties. Australian wines are defined by their grape variety, unlike French wines, which are defined by their terroir.