Usher Tinkler Paperwasp Chardonnay 2024
The Wine
This new release from Usher Tinkler came about over a shared bottle of wine, as so often great ideas do with the desire to offer a barrel fermented Hunter Valley Chardonnay immediately accessible both in style and price point. Usher Tinker own over 60 hectares of established vineyard in Pokolbin including some superb older Chardonnay vines. This wine comes from a 1.6 hectare vineyard planted in 1985, vines now over 35 years old, sandy loam composition.
Handpicked, 100% barrel fermented in a mix of 1 to 3 year old French oak with a small portion going through malolactic fermentation. The 2022 has been aged for 18 months on fine lees with battonage during the elevage.
This wine takes it’s name from the vineyard “Paperwasp Vineyard” due to the high number of Paperwasps that nest in the vines around harvest time.
95 Pts Tony Paterson, The Wine Advocate 'This single-vineyard wine has compelling length and depth, with expansive flavours and mouth-watering lemon and white nectarine notes. A faint sulphide funk runs through the wine, enhancing its charm. Amazing quality for the price.'The Details
Variety - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Hunter Valley
Sub Region - Pokolbin
Extra - Cork
Year - 2024
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Without question one of the most exciting and progressive producers in recent times hailing from the Hunter Valley. In addition Usher Tinkler own some superb vineyards in Pokolbin, over 60 hectares in fact. Usher is the third in the line of 3 Usher’s, a true family name something I can’t help love especially due to my wanting to break out the album 8701 every time we talk. The family can truly claim their connection to the land with Usher’s grandfather working as a dairyman, his father as a cattleman and now Usher as a vigneron and winemaker. The cellar door itself is actually the original Church of Pokolbin which was built in 1905, more recently renovated by Usher as the home of Usher Tinkler wines.
The range of wines are wonderfully diverse. The Reserve Chardonnay is very a modern expression from the Hunter, a judicious use of oak alongside a Shiraz sourced from some superb old vines that the estate own. The Natural wines are showcasing the Hunter in a new light but I can assure you, these wines are made with some serious attention to detail and are clean, delicious bottlings.
