Petaluma Tiers Chardonnay

Wine information: Petaluma Vineyards was established by Brian Croser in 1976, Petaluma have established a huge reputation, primarily for their Chardonnay from the Piccadilly Valley, but more recently for Riesling from the Clare Valley and a Cabernet/Merlot blend from the Coonawarra. Croser grew his empire, extending the publicly listed Petaluma Limited group by acquiring premium labels Knappstein Wines, Mitchelton, Stonier and Smithbrook, and also participated in a venture in Oregon, Argyle. In October 2001 Petaluma itself was acquired by giant Australasian brewers Lion Nathan, and Croser was appointed chairman of the Lion Nathan wine group. The Tiers Vineyard, planted in 1979 on friable red soils, is the lowest and warmest vineyard in the Piccadilly Valley, Adelaide Hills. The viticultural paradox of a "cool location", "warm site", ensures complete ripening in the cool, sunny and dry conditions of mid-Autumn. Everything in the Tiers Vineyard is done by hand including the picking of grapes to ensure the fruit is delivered in perfect condition to the Petaluma winery. The fruit is de-stemmed and then undergoes a gentle pressing. The cold juice then allowed to settle before it is racked off into Vosges oak barriques for fermentation.

Tasting Notes: Petaluma Tiers Chardonnay offers remarkable balance and ripe white peach aromas with a wonderful long, nutty, viscous finish.

Reviews: "One of my most memorable tastings of the year was at Petaluma, in the Adelaide Hills, on a rainy day in September, where Andrew (Ox) Hardy showed me his latest array of unreleased wines.  Without exception every single wine on show was the best of its kind that I have ever tasted.  There was even a 2010 Hanlin Hill ‘Cordon Cut’ Riesling – which will no doubt become next year’s most sought after, cult sweetie.  Anyway, the ‘academy’ that is Petaluma is set to remind us all exactly why it is such a revered name in the Aussie wine hierarchy.  Every wine style, whether it is the Riesling, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Viognier or their awesome Coonawarra red blend is on sensational form.  This is Australia’s most improved winery of the year and you should sprint out and buy this featured Chardy or their Grand Cru-like, single vineyard version 2006 Petaluma Tiers as soon as you can.  The élan and value offered by these wines puts France (and the rest of the world) to shame." Matthew Jukes, MoneyWeek.

 
     

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