2025 Stoney Rise Chardonnay, Tasmania

A consistently delicious chardonnay from Joe Holyman up the Tamar Valley, and this has to be one of the best value examples of the variety around. Keenly focused with grapefruit, green apple and lemon fruits, glimpses of grilled nuts and struck flint, crushed stone, almond paste and meadow flowers. There's a bit of a chablis vibe going on, with a taut palate profile, just a slink of chalky texture and a crisp, saline finish that highlights the region's racy acidity. Drink to 2032.

94 points Special Value Dave Brookes for Halliday Wine Companion, February 2026

Fine cedar, green melon, white grapefruit, struck match, chalk dust, lemon pith and white florals kick things off in a higher tone before the wine deepens with air to show white peach, white pear and some subtle ground cinnamon dancing around the edges. Some nougat and toasted spice notes emerge with a further swirl of the glass. There’s tensility and crunchiness to the palate, clearly showing its youth, with chiselled fruit notes akin to the nose and the cedar and spice sitting very much in the background. There’s a fine sheath of chalky tannins adding texture more than frame, and a bright line of grapefruit acidity drawing good length and freshness. For such a young wine, there’s a lot on offer here and a promising future ahead as it relaxes and fleshes out with time.

93 points Tom Kline for WinePilot, March 2026

The vibrant 2025 Chardonnay Stoney Rise jumps out of the glass with pure, musky peach aromas and a nice touch of flinty reduction. On the palate, it is fresh and layered, with a silky core of peach and citrus and subtle oak spice drifting through to a fine, detailed finish. Drink to 2030.

91 points Angus Hughson for Vinous, July 2026

Stoney Rise is the family-run winery of Joe and Lou Holyman. Established in 2004, it is centred around a vineyard in northern Tasmania originally planted in 1986. The low-lying site is located north of Launceston and less than a kilometre from the banks of the Tamar River. Pinot Noir is their principal variety, and the total area under vine sits at 7.4 hectares with a density of 4,500 vines per hectare.