2022 Collector Tiger Tiger Chardonnay, Tumbarumba

The power and finesse of Tumbarumba chardonnay are on show here, folks. And at its best. This is flinty and a little funky with lemon blossom and mock orange to twitch the nose and mouth-watering flavours teasing the palate. Full of Meyer lemon, ginger spice and nougat with a layer of creamy lees adding texture while the fine acidity is both cleansing and spine-tingling. It finishes long, precise and with conviction.

95 points Special Value Jane Faulkner winecompanion.com.au

Lifted and evocative aromas of grapefruit pith, white flowers, nougat, white peach and a lick of struck match. Lovely complexity. Mouth-filling, fine and focused on the palate. There’s a driving, piercing line of acidity along with flavours of just-ripe white stone fruit, grilled nuts and citrus. Great length, texture and poise 08 OCT 2023 Drink 2023–2030

95 points Aaron Brasher therealreview.com

Having grown up in the area, Alex got his first taste of winemaking with Edgar Riek, a pioneer of the Canberra District at Lake George. But it was working as winemaker for Hardys’ flagship winery in the district from 2000 that really developed his intimate knowledge of the region, climate, soils and vineyards.

“I then started Collector Wines at a time when the first really complete expressions of the Canberra District and surrounding terroir had begun to emerge. There was a lot of raw but unrealized potential in the soils and the vineyards, and I was drawn to it,” he says.

Alex is the ultimate collector, carefully working with the best parcels of fruit to craft wines that perfectly express their varietal and place. His vision for the wine begins in the vineyard, as each site requires its own approach. For the vineyards we manage, our practices are oriented towards building up soil carbon, water-holding capacity and vineyard biodiversity. Alex also works closely with select growers in the region and beyond. In the winery, attention to detail and discipline ensure a consistent focus on quality.

Of Alex, James Halliday has said, “He is not known to speak much… so you have to remain alert to appreciate his unparalleled sense of humour. No such attention is needed for his wines, which are consistently excellent, their elegance appropriate for their maker.”