Wine of the week: a trio of tremendous whites

Well-balanced and not too exuberant nor expressive, this is a finely tuned and deliciously mesmerising creation.

2020 Tapanappa, Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia  

£36, reduced to £27 each for a case of six bottles, threshers.co.uk; £29.50, thechampagnecompany.com

I have a trio of tremendous whites from Tapanappa for you this week, all new vintage releases. In reverse order, starting with the grandest of the three: 2019 Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay (£32, in bond per bottle, Cellar Circle Exclusive, laywheeler.com; £40, thechampagnecompany.com). Only 2,700 bottles have been made and the UK received just 588, so get in quick. There is no doubt that this is one of the most extraordinary wines I have tasted from this legendary site. 

Next, 2020 Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard 1.5M Chardonnay (£35, thechampagnecompany.com) is made from a 2003 re-planting of Dijon clone chardonnay and it sits across the road from the original 1979 block. This is only the second time that this “close-planted” wine has made it to the UK, and I noted Chassagne-Montrachet-like presence here coupled with a very long finish. The oak is superb, and the depth of fruit, while prodigious, is not quite as lusty as that found in Tiers.

Finally, my featured wine. Only 525 dozen were made, and this is the most forward-drinking and invigorating chardonnay under this famous label. Well-balanced and not too exuberant nor expressive, the fruit is calm, layered, detailed and impressive. There are none of the exotic notes found in the other wines in this lithe beauty, making it a finely tuned and deliciously mesmerising creation.

Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition’s Communicator of the Year (MatthewJukes.com)

Recommended

Where will house prices go in 2023?
House prices

Where will house prices go in 2023?

We explore what could happen to house prices in 2023 as the market continues to slow down.
24 Mar 2023
What is inflation and how will it affect you?
Inflation

What is inflation and how will it affect you?

There has been much talk of inflation recently. But what exactly is it and what does it mean for our money?
24 Mar 2023
3 success stories set for long-term growth
Investments

3 success stories set for long-term growth

A professional investor tells us where he’d put his money. This week: Felix Wintle, manager of the VT Tyndall North American Fund, selects three favou…
24 Mar 2023
Share tips of the week – 24 March
Investments

Share tips of the week – 24 March

MoneyWeek’s comprehensive guide to the best of this week’s share tips from the rest of the UK's financial pages
24 Mar 2023

Most Popular

Where will house prices go in 2023?
House prices

Where will house prices go in 2023?

We explore what could happen to house prices in 2023 as the market continues to slow down.
24 Mar 2023
Will energy prices go down in 2023?
Personal finance

Will energy prices go down in 2023?

Ofgem’s price cap is now predicted to fall below £2,000, based on average typical use, from July, for the first time since 2022. We have all the detai…
21 Mar 2023
5 top UK tech stocks
Investments

5 top UK tech stocks

The UK market has never been considered a fertile hunting ground for tech stars. But there are plenty of promising companies beyond the old economy, s…
23 Mar 2023