Product Information:
The 2021 Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay is another exceptional release from one of Australia’s most iconic vineyards. With a slightly larger crop than in previous years, the 2021 vintage still offers the same remarkable intensity and focus that the Tiers Vineyard is known for. The season was marked by cool, dry conditions that allowed the grapes to ripen slowly, producing a Chardonnay with incredible purity and definition.
The nose opens with an aromatic display of ripe citrus, white peach, and nectarine, complemented by subtle notes of cashew nut, toasted oak, and a hint of lemon zest. On the palate, the wine is beautifully textured—rich and mouth-coating, yet retaining a fresh vibrancy that defines the Tiers style. The fruit intensity is matched by a fine thread of acidity that carries the wine through to a long, mineral finish, with hints of flint and citrus pith. This is a Chardonnay with both power and elegance, showing off the Tiers Vineyard’s unique terroir, and offering a glimpse into its great aging potential.
Hand-harvested from the Tiers Vineyard’s 1979-planted block, the fruit was gently pressed, with the juice fermented in French oak barriques (33% new) for two months, allowing for the development of complexity and depth. The wine was aged on its full lees until it was racked and bottled in early 2022, capturing the essence of the vineyard in every drop.
Maker:
Tapanappa is the culmination of a journey that has helped shape the modern Adelaide Hills wine scene. It was founded by Brian Croser, the visionary behind Petaluma, which he established as one of the region’s first and finest wineries. After Petaluma was taken over by corporate giant Lion Nathan in 2001, the Crosers retained ownership of their family home and the iconic Tiers Chardonnay vineyard at the original site.
In 2002, Brian and his wife Ann established Tapanappa in partnership with the Cazes family of Château Lynch-Bages (Bordeaux) and Bollinger Champagne. The French partners remained with Tapanappa until 2014, when the Crosers regained full control of the Piccadilly Valley winery and cellars. With the 2015 vintage, they revitalized the winery, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Tapanappa.
Today, Tapanappa operates as a family-run business, with Brian’s daughter Lucy and her husband Xavier Bizot managing the winery. Their son-in-law Sam Barlow oversees winemaking. Tapanappa’s wines are distributed across Australia by Terroir Selections, a company co-founded by Lucy and Xavier.
The Philosophy:
The name "Tapanappa" is derived from the 550-million-year-old geological formation beneath the Fleurieu Peninsula, where the Croser family also owns the Foggy Hill vineyard. Tapanappa means "sticking to the path" in the local Aboriginal language, reflecting the philosophy that has guided Brian Croser’s vineyard selection process. By matching climate, soil, and geology to the right grape varieties, Brian has crafted wines that are true expressions of their unique terroirs.
The Tiers Vineyard, planted with Chardonnay in 1979, is one of the most distinguished sites in Australia. Located in the Piccadilly Valley, it helped pioneer the cool-climate wine industry in South Australia. The Foggy Hill vineyard, planted with Pinot Noir in 2003 on the Fleurieu Peninsula, produces wines of great character and depth. For more robust reds, Tapanappa’s Whalebone Vineyard, in Wrattonbully, is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, making use of ancient soils where a 35-million-year-old whale skeleton was discovered.
NOSE
Lemon Zest, White Peach, Subtle Cashew
A vibrant bouquet of fresh lemon zest and white peach, with delicate hints of cashew nuts and a touch of oak spice. The minerality is subtle but adds depth to the aromatic profile.
PALATE
Citrus, Peach, Creamy Texture
Medium-bodied with a rich mouthfeel, offering bright citrus and ripe peach flavours. A smooth, creamy texture is balanced by a precise line of acidity, providing freshness and depth.
FINISH
Mineral, Citrus Zest, Light Oak
A long, mineral-driven finish with lingering notes of citrus zest and delicate oak spice, leaving the palate refreshed and clean.
I have described the 2021 vintage in the Piccadilly Valley as “near perfect”. Like 2020, the 2021 vintage was marginally warmer than average. What a relief to have two successive cooler vintages, (indeed 3 as I observe the evolving 2022 vintage), after the near unrelenting warmth of the previous decade of vintages. - Brian Croser, Wine Maker
This is stunning. Intense with flavour, chalky of texture, long of finish. Flint, grapefruit, pear and peach flavours charge with authority through the palate. Crushed fennel notes dance about the edges. The drive and the power and the overall impact of this is really quite something; it’s an emphatic wine, it took but one sip for me to be thoroughly convinced. - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, 96 Points
The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Piccadilly Valley, South Australia
Vintage - 2021
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.4%
