“An exceptional chardonnay from another top winemaker, Brian Croser, yielding an ethereal saline freshness reminiscent of Burgundy’s best. It’s full-bodied, with stone fruit, cashew and a trace of oak.”
Will Lyons, The Times – 40 Best Wines for Christmas Day 2nd December 2020
Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2017
“Pale gold. Toasty oak and struck match, overripe, focused lemon-rind fruit. More struck match on the palate, with lemon and lean white peach. Toasty, nutty, long finish. Just a bit struck matchy and lean for now” 17+/20
Jancis Robinson 7th March 2019
Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2016
“Bright nougat, toasted almond and cashew aromas. The palate is intense and refreshingly crisp, with concentrated lemon and citrus fruit, plus tremendous refinement. This has sustained power, the flavours lingering long after the wine has gone.” 97 points
Huon Hooke, Decanter 30th September 2018
“A very stylish, powerful and composed chardonnay with attractive fresh lemons, white peaches and nectarines, as well as more savory pastry and sweet white flowers. The palate is layered and complex, showing some gently creamy, lees-derived texture that is cut with bracing acidity. A long and spice-laced finish. Terrific power and freshness.” 94 points
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com 15th August 2018
Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
“2017 was almost a perfect vintage here; Brian Croser used 30% whole-bunch fruit, cooled, then layered with de-stemmed bunches before the tank was sealed. Floral, delicate yet with great persistence – an ultra-elegant example of Australian Pinot.” 94 points
Andy Howard MW, Decanter 30th May 2019
“Has the emerging signature of coal smoky savouriness (30% whole bunches) and dried flowers here. Violets and roses with a cooler on average vintage. Mulberries and red cherries with an impressive depth. The palate has the expressive, lively finish, and the tannins are groomed and linear, working in tandem. Nuanced, plush and even-paced. The best to date. Barrel sample.” 93-94 points.
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com 15th August 2018
Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016
“A very complex array of dried flowers such as roses and violets. Subtly savory dark cherries and earthy fruits, as well as some graphite, coal smoke and savory, dark and stony nuances. The palate is very nicely wrapped in spicy layered tannins. There is also a core of bright tangy fruit, darker cherries and a wealth of deep-set riper fruits, which delve into the spectrum of plums and cherry cake. It has presence in a bolder style.” 93 points.
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com 15th August 2018
Whalebone Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2014
“Deep black-ruby. Eucalypt tones to dense, ripe cassis and black cherry, with dark chocolate, vanilla-cream oak and some white-pepper spice. Big and bold. Fleshy, ripe and full-bodied, with fairly firm, chalky tannins. Spicy mid palate, with some balsamic development to the ripe black fruit. Good length. Nice example of a big, bold but well-harnessed Cab-Shiraz.” 17/20
Jancis Robinson 7th March 2019
“This a very fluid, plush and deep-set yet elegant wine with has deep flavors, sweet fruits. The mulberries meets blackberries. Shows similar plushness and a fine and very evenly paced style here. It has an effortless presence. Terrific.” 95 points
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com 15th August 2018
Whalebone Merlot Cabernet Franc 2014
“A cooler vintage and low-cropping. Very rich and plush with terrific depth and plushness. It holds floral notes on the nose with freshly tilled earthy nuances and aromas of spiced forest. The palate is fleshy with deep-set plum flavors, delivering a long supple and elegant wine. A plush, plum and tea-cake finish.” 93 points
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com 15th August 2018
South Australia, Australia
Tapanappa
Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2018
“An exceptional chardonnay from another top winemaker, Brian Croser, yielding an ethereal saline freshness reminiscent of Burgundy’s best. It’s full-bodied, with stone fruit, cashew and a trace of oak.”
Will Lyons, The Times – 40 Best Wines for Christmas Day
2nd December 2020
Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2017
“Pale gold. Toasty oak and struck match, overripe, focused lemon-rind fruit. More struck match on the palate, with lemon and lean white peach. Toasty, nutty, long finish. Just a bit struck matchy and lean for now” 17+/20
Jancis Robinson
7th March 2019
Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2016
“Bright nougat, toasted almond and cashew aromas. The palate is intense and refreshingly crisp, with concentrated lemon and citrus fruit, plus tremendous refinement. This has sustained power, the flavours lingering long after the wine has gone.” 97 points
Huon Hooke, Decanter
30th September 2018
“A very stylish, powerful and composed chardonnay with attractive fresh lemons, white peaches and nectarines, as well as more savory pastry and sweet white flowers. The palate is layered and complex, showing some gently creamy, lees-derived texture that is cut with bracing acidity. A long and spice-laced finish. Terrific power and freshness.” 94 points
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
15th August 2018
Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
“2017 was almost a perfect vintage here; Brian Croser used 30% whole-bunch fruit, cooled, then layered with de-stemmed bunches before the tank was sealed. Floral, delicate yet with great persistence – an ultra-elegant example of Australian Pinot.” 94 points
Andy Howard MW, Decanter
30th May 2019
“Has the emerging signature of coal smoky savouriness (30% whole bunches) and dried flowers here. Violets and roses with a cooler on average vintage. Mulberries and red cherries with an impressive depth. The palate has the expressive, lively finish, and the tannins are groomed and linear, working in tandem. Nuanced, plush and even-paced. The best to date. Barrel sample.” 93-94 points.
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
15th August 2018
Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016
“A very complex array of dried flowers such as roses and violets. Subtly savory dark cherries and earthy fruits, as well as some graphite, coal smoke and savory, dark and stony nuances. The palate is very nicely wrapped in spicy layered tannins. There is also a core of bright tangy fruit, darker cherries and a wealth of deep-set riper fruits, which delve into the spectrum of plums and cherry cake. It has presence in a bolder style.” 93 points.
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
15th August 2018
Whalebone Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2014
“Deep black-ruby. Eucalypt tones to dense, ripe cassis and black cherry, with dark chocolate, vanilla-cream oak and some white-pepper spice. Big and bold. Fleshy, ripe and full-bodied, with fairly firm, chalky tannins. Spicy mid palate, with some balsamic development to the ripe black fruit. Good length. Nice example of a big, bold but well-harnessed Cab-Shiraz.” 17/20
Jancis Robinson
7th March 2019
“This a very fluid, plush and deep-set yet elegant wine with has deep flavors, sweet fruits. The mulberries meets blackberries. Shows similar plushness and a fine and very evenly paced style here. It has an effortless presence. Terrific.” 95 points
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
15th August 2018
Whalebone Merlot Cabernet Franc 2014
“A cooler vintage and low-cropping. Very rich and plush with terrific depth and plushness. It holds floral notes on the nose with freshly tilled earthy nuances and aromas of spiced forest. The palate is fleshy with deep-set plum flavors, delivering a long supple and elegant wine. A plush, plum and tea-cake finish.” 93 points
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
15th August 2018