2024 Clarence House Chardonnay, Southern Tasmania

Light straw in the glass with aromas of white peach, apple and lemon, hints of soft spice, vanillin oak, stone, white flowers, nougat and almond paste. Stony and savoury on the palate, with a distinct mineral blast and a sleek stretch of citrus and stone fruits as it fades away. Drink to 2031.

92 points Dave Brookes for Halliday Wine Companion, September 2025

Clarence House is historic homestead built in 1830 on land which was originally the market garden for the city of Hobart. Located in the foothills of the Meehan Ranges between River Derwent and the Coal River Valley, its present owner David Kilpatrick first planted vines on the property’s dolerite and basalt northeast facing slopes in 1998. Numerous clones of Pinot Noir dominate the now 16-hectare vineyard, followed by Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and tiny experimental blocks of Pinot Blanc, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

The vineyard is managed with judicious use of inputs and sustainability in mind. Systemic herbicides, insecticides and fungicides are not used, the under vine area is slashed, the inter-row sward is left to thrive and flower, irrigation is used sparingly and the vine canopies are treated in a way that promotes balanced, tempered growth in line with the current season’s conditions.

All Clarence House wines are made by Justin Bubb and Anna Pooley. This wine is made from two clones of Chardonnay growing in Clarence House’s east-facing Block 4. The fruit was picked at the start of April, whole-bunch pressed and fermented with indigenous yeasts in a combination of stainless steel and well-seasoned French oak puncheons.