Ray Jordan

96 Points

The close spaces planting of this part of the Tiers vineyard imparts a slightly different flavour and textural feel to the chardonnays from the old Tiers plantings. Intense aromas of tropical fruits, brioche and spices. The palate is ripe and textured although the chalky acid and light citrus edge hold the definition and line through to the long finish. Supremely balanced with the oak and fruit integration seamless and refined. Excellent wine.

Mike Bennie

Halliday Wine Companion 96 Points

Fruit is picked from a close-planted block that was planted in ’03. This is wonderful chardonnay – all finesse, tension, filigreed minerality, light, savoury undertones and pristine, bright green pear, nectarine and pink grapefruit freshness. Touches of nougat, sea spray and green almond in the mesh of characters here. A suggestion of flint and wet slate lend credence and complexity, too. Very precise and energetic, and extends long in flavour and persistence of minerality. Class act.

Ryan Montgomery

James Suckling 96 Points

There’s so much tension and purity, with restrained aromas of grilled lemons, gunpowder, flint and white orchard fruit. The palate is mid-weighted with a great core of fruit, lovely underlying freshness and bright acidity, with a minerally and fruit-driven finish. A delightful, classy chardonnay. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Aaron Brasher

The Real Review 96 Points

Bright and vibrant in the glass. The aromas are lifted and layered, cashew nut, white stone fruit, nougat, melon skin and white flowers. Powerful and mouth-filling in flavour, but with fabulous balance and purity. There’s a seamlessness to the palate, the concentrated fruit and nutty oak working wonderfully together. Long and with real presence.

Jeni Port

Wine Pilot 95 Points

The use of 1.5m informs the drinker that a part of the vineyard has been close-planted – a 1.5 metre spacing between rows of vines – a fact that can excite some because of the suggestion of higher quality, amongst other more viticultural-related things. A tightly coiled, extra youthful Chardonnay expression emerges in ’24, a cool year, with a taut, almost bracing level of acidity discernible now (for those interested, total acid is 7.58 grams per litre). But, it’s early days. Emerging citrus, stone fruits, Meyer lemon, honeydew melon, hazelnut, spice and something I have noted as “smokey honeycomb” – it’s a good thing – fill the palate. This is a complex wine at the start of its life which means the wine’s textural component is building. Everything is in place but consider giving the wine more time alone before broaching. It will benefit enormously from it.

Tom Kline

Wine Pilot 95 Points

Named on account of the 1.5 metre spacing between vine rows. Fresh, tightly wound and elegant aromas of white peach and cedar kick things off, followed by green apple, Meyer lemon, peach blossom, nectarine pulp and cinnamon. There’s a taut and coy feel to the palate at this stage of its life, though with restrained power keen to unfurl in time. White peach, apple, Meyer lemon again, some delicate brown spice. The acidity is assertive and tight here, reflecting the cool vintage and working with chalky phenolics to create a coiled and taut frame through the finish. The bones are excellent, and this will shine following a decade in cellar.