Tolpuddle Vineyard, Chardonnay

Tolpuddle Vineyard, ChardonnayThe 2023 Tolpuddle Chardonnay is a steely and tense expression that delivers powerful and highly focussed aromas of citrus and florals with a peach skin highlight. Fine French oak sits in the perfect place. Excellent density of youthful flavor follows, with flinty, delicatessen like tones holding firm over a strong, long, adolescent finish. This is a keeper that needs another decade to hit its peak.

Otherwise there is a bit more volume

Quite dense and tight

but the 2004 appears to have been heavily marked by new French oak

though the nose is still a bit shy

Wine broker Charles Blagden is involved in this cuvee

with flavors of candied citrus

A more elegant and slightly better layered nose flashes notes of lemon rind

a little smoky too

There is great balance

with good acids

At the end of the day this feels lighter but at the same time more complex than the 2010

leather and plenty of earth scents introduces tension-filled and intensely mineral-driven medium weight flavors