2024 Sinapius Close Planted Chardonnay, Northern Tasmania

Dry-grown, high-density chardonnay from Pipers River, planted at 7700–9615 vines per ha across nine different chardonnay clones, wild fermented and matured for 12 months in French oak, 15% new. Fleshy peach, white nectarine, pear and grapefruit with hints of clotted cream, soft spice, meadow flowers, crushed shells and minerals, almond butter, vanillin oak and ozone. Sleek, supple and long of flavour, with a slide of umami, a brisk, briny acid drivetrain and a touch of lemon curd and nashi pear on the complex, sustained finish. Drink to 2033.

95 points Dave Brookes for Halliday Wine Companion, September 2026

The 2024 Sinapius Close Planted Chardonnay opens with a perfumed nose of ripe orchard fruit, freshly baked milk bread, nougat and subtle notes of vanilla. The medium-weighted palate echoes the nose with generous, savoury fruit flavours wrapped in layers of lightly grippy texture. The finish is quietly persistent, with a gently humming energy.

This wine would sit well with richly textured savoury dishes with subtle caramelised elements. Pour a glass to enjoy with pan-seared crisp skin mulloway served with a charred leek-tahini puree, or hibachi grilled chicken thigh and spring onion yakitori with a tare glaze.

More about this wine

The fruit was pressed into stainless steel and settled overnight before the juice and most of the solids were transferred to a mixture of French oak barriques, puncheons and demi-muids of which a total 15% were new. Fermentation started with indigenous yeasts, and the wine was allowed full malolactic conversion during its 12-month time in the barrels. The barrels were then blend and allowed a further six months in stainless steel and bottled without fining or filtration.

About this producer

Vaughn Dell and Linda Morice were just 24 years old when they purchased then tiny 2-hectare Golders Vineyard in Pipers Brook on Tasmania’s north coast in 2005 and re-named it Sinapius. Originally planted with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, they set out to add two new sections of vines with updated clones of both varieties, and adding Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Gamay. The two new sections are close planted at extreme density of 7700 and 10250 vines per hectare respectively, the aim being for naturally low bunch weights and yields per vine. 

Vaughn unfortunately passed away at the end of the 2020 vintage. Linda is now solely responsible for the dry-grown vineyard and winery and continues to build on their important legacy. Under her stewardship Sinapius has cemented its place in the top tier of Tasmania’s wine producers.