2024 Sinapius Close Planted Chardonnay

95 pts
Ultra-low-yield, high-density Tasmanian Chardonnay from nine clones across Sinapius' most tightly planted blocks.

Price:
Sale price$70.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
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Description

We reckon this is the best Sinapius Chardonnay to date - a ripping wine.

The obsessive vine density that runs through everything Sinapius does applies just as much to the whites. These blocks run between 7,700 and 9,615 vines per hectare across nine different Chardonnay clones, all dry-grown, all yielding less than a kilo per vine. That's a lot of effort for a very small amount of wine, and it shows in what ends up in the glass.

The winemaking from Linda Morice is precise and patient. Grapes are pressed straight to tank without enzymes, settled overnight, then transferred to a mix of 600, 500 and 225-litre French oak barrels with the solids retained. Wild yeast fermentation, 100% malolactic, 15% new oak, 12 months on full lees, then six months in tank to settle and come together before bottling. No fining, no filtration.

What comes out is a Chardonnay that manages to be both textural and precise, generous and tightly focused. There's real energy and brightness running through it, with a savoury, almost briny quality on the finish, and genuine intensity to the fruit.  It's just so damn good to drink.

This is top-shelf Tasmanian Chardonnay from a producer at the top of their game. Well done Linda!

95 points
"Crackles with energy, a mountain stream purity under licks of vanilla cream, halva, gingernut biscuit, bitter lemonade – so beautifully set, even, flowing and fine... Excellent wine."
- Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

95+ points
"We are talking fruit here, beautiful fruit, glorious fruit. We are talking a cold, clear, warm-in-the-sun day, in the glass. Certainly, I am impressed."
- Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

95+ points - "We are talking fruit here, beautiful fruit, glorious fruit. We are talking a cold, clear, warm-in-the-sun day, in the glass. Certainly, I am impressed. Grapefruit, custard apples, hay, brine, cedar and white peach characters are delivered in sublime, textural form. The finish takes care of itself; gently grippy, and savoury, and umami-ridden. It’s a wine as the food of life." - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

95 points - "Really low yielding year. Really. Crackles with energy, a mountain stream purity under licks of vanilla cream, halva, gingernut biscuit, bitter lemonade – so beautifully set, even, flowing and fine. That being said, concentration in textural terms works wonderfully too, despite having that minerality in play so distinctly. Excellent wine. 95 in a canter." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

Grown exclusively from our dry-grown, high-density planted blocks, at 7,700–9,615 vines per hectare across nine different Chardonnay clones. Yields are kept below 1kg per vine, with grapes handpicked at 11.5–12° Baumé.

The fruit was pressed directly to tank without enzymes and lightly settled overnight before being transferred to 600, 500 and 225-litre French oak barrels, retaining most of the solids. Wild yeast fermentation and maturation followed for 12 months, with 15% new oak and 100% malolactic fermentation. After 12 months on full lees, the wine was blended and settled in tank for a further six months, allowing integration and natural clarification without fining or filtration.

Perfumed and centred, with grapefruit, white flowers, custard apple, lemon water, milk bun, white peach and white stone fruit. Hints of marzipan, water chestnut, bush honey, hay, brine and cedar add complexity, while subtle green apple and nashi bring lift. Precise and focused, with a just-medium body framed by delicacy and sublime texture, enlivened by vibrancy and powered by a potent, inherent drive.

The palate carries a gentle savoury undercurrent, with bittersweet citrus, fennel herb, brine and umami influences building through the finish. Long, fine and gently grippy, the tail takes care of itself, leaving a lingering sense of savoury energy and quiet persistence. A sublime wine of life and energy.

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type White
Body Full Bodied
Variety Chardonnay
Country Australia
Region Tamar Valley
Australian State TAS
Feature Women in Wine
Reviewed By The Wine Front
Critic Score 95
Alcohol 13%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2024
Closure Screw Cap

Sinapius

Sinapius is a premium boutique Tasmanian winery started by two young, passionate winemakers.

The couple, Vaughn Dell & Linda Morice, purchased the site when they were only 24-years-old and chose to plant their vines in the Burgundian fashion opting for high-density planting and low-yielding crops. Their small labour of love has budded into one of Tasmania's most exciting viticultural projects.

Vaughn passed away tragically in 2020, however, the Sinapius label continues under the guidance of Linda and the help of some loving friends. The Sinapius wines are of extremely high quality, made in small amounts and showcase their unique patch of dirt with transparency, purity and power.

Linda Morice in the Sinapius Cellar Discover Sinapius

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Common Questions

Delivery is free on orders of $199 or more.

For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.

We will dispatch your order the same or next business day.

Estimated delivery transit time varies depending on your location. Please review this page for specific estimates.

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We stock three different sized gift boxes (single, three bottle and six), all are available for purchase for a flat rate of $8. They look great and make an awesome impression.

To add a gift box to your order, simply add at checkout. The special requests box is your friend, please give us as many details of what you are looking for and we will try our best, or get in contact to discuss it with you. 

If you want to bulk order gifts or if you have any trouble please email hello@differentdrop.com or call and we can try and help.

 

Our warehouse is automated so unless you tell us otherwise, we will ship your order. If you would like us to hold your order please reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order and we are happy to store your order for up to 6 months at no charge. You can review our heat policy here.

Yes, of course. We want Different Drop customers to always be getting the best price. You can see our price match policy here.

No, feel free to mix it up! There is no minimum requirement. You can order wines in any quantity or combination, 1 or 50+ bottles.

No, all prices are set at the full discounted dozen rate already.

Most wine retailers list at a single-bottle price and then discount 10–15% when you buy six or twelve. We've taken the opposite approach. Since the overwhelming majority of our orders are already 6 bottles or more, our list price is set for the case buyer from the start. There's no inflated single-bottle price to discount down from.

What that means for you:

- One price, same for everyone — no minimum to hit to unlock the best rate
- No mixed-six gymnastics to qualify for a discount
- Our single-bottle price is typically at or below a traditional retailer's by-the-dozen rate

Put simply: the box discount is already baked into the price.

**And if you find it cheaper elsewhere?** Let us know. If the same wine is available at a lower price at another retailer (including at their mixed-six or by-the-dozen rate) we're happy to match it.

If you can't add more wine to your cart it means we are low on stock of that wine. For example, if you are only able to 3 bottles and no more that means we only have 3 bottles left of that wine. If it's a must have, please contact us and we may be able to order more in for you.

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