Tyrrell's : Vat 47 Chardonnay 2021

Characteristics and tasting tips for Vat 47 Chardonnay 2021 Tyrrell's

Tasting

Appearance

The colour is pale, a light straw hue with green highlights, a sign of well-preserved youth and of winemaking focused on freshness.

Nose

The nose opens with an expressive bouquet of white peach, nectarine and citrus zest, enriched with notes of green apple and white pineapple. More discreet touches of cashew nut, vanilla and flint complete the bouquet, while a mineral dimension reminiscent of crushed stone, along with subtle floral and white pepper spice nuances, adds real depth.

Palate

The attack is lively and taut, quickly followed by a broad, creamy mid-palate carried by flavours of preserved lemon, peach and lightly toasted almond. The full, generous structure remains balanced by a vibrant acidity that brings tension and freshness, while the subtle, well-integrated oak supports the whole without ever dominating it. The long, saline finish ends on a delicate hint of bitterness that gracefully prolongs the tasting.

Food pairing

This Vat 47 Chardonnay 2021 pairs beautifully with pasta dishes in a creamy sauce, particularly those with herbal touches such as pesto. It is also an excellent match for white-fleshed fish and shellfish in butter or lemon sauces, as well as for roast poultry or poultry served in a cream sauce. Those who enjoy more sophisticated pairings can also serve it with cooked pressed cheeses of medium aromatic intensity.

Serving and cellaring

This Vat 47 Chardonnay 2021 can be enjoyed now, while also offering favourable ageing potential thanks to its pronounced acidity and balanced structure.

A historic Australian Chardonnay from the Hunter Valley, combining tension and creamy texture

The estate

Founded in 1858 by Edward Tyrrell in Pokolbin, in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, Tyrrell's has remained in the hands of the same family for five generations. Now run by Chris Tyrrell as CEO, alongside Bruce Tyrrell, the estate has built an international reputation thanks to its emblematic cuvées, notably the Vat 1 Semillon and the Vat 47 Chardonnay. Tyrrell's is also distinguished by its commitment to sustainable viticulture, recognised by the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification.

The vineyard

This Vat 47 Chardonnay comes from vines in the Hunter Valley, notably from the Short Flat vineyard, planted with Chardonnay in 1968 by Murray Tyrrell, in the immediate vicinity of the historic Pokolbin winery. This plot is largely dry-farmed, without irrigation, which encourages deep rooting of the vines and a refined expression of this Australian terroir.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage marks the fiftieth harvest of the Vat 47 cuvée, created in 1971. The grapes reached sufficient ripeness to produce a wine that is both full and rich, while retaining a lively, well-defined acidity.

Winemaking and ageing

This Vat 47 Chardonnay 2021 is crafted with an approach inspired by the great white wines of Burgundy. After gentle pressing, the must first ferments in stainless steel tanks before being transferred to French oak barrels to complete its fermentation and ageing. The wine benefits from lees stirring, which gives it its creamy texture, as well as a partial malolactic fermentation, which preserves a lively acidity while rounding out the overall profile.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay