2025 Usher Tinkler Paperwasp Vineyard Chardonnay

Great ideas often start over a shared bottle of wine, and the 'Paperwasp' is proof of that. Usher Tinkler wanted to create a barrel-fermented Hunter Chardonnay that was immediately accessible in both style and price, and he has absolutely nailed it once again for the 2025 release.

The wine takes its name from the 1.6-hectare vineyard planted in 1985, where backpackers often perform "The Dance of the Paper Wasp" to avoid the nests hidden in the canopy during harvest. Now 40 years old, these vines on sandy loam soil produce fruit with serious concentration.

It is 100% barrel fermented in a mix of new and old French oak, with monthly lees stirring and partial malolactic fermentation. This gives the wine a rich, creamy texture that fills the mouth without weighing it down. It is full-bodied and generous but retains that vital freshness you need. A wonderfully versatile Chardonnay that delivers terrific bang for your buck.

95 points
"Such a beautiful wine, displaying all of the lightness and energy of the '25 chardonnay vintage... The wine shows the strength of the vineyards and the insight of the winemaker, with a relentless pursuit of quality in both areas. Punches well above its weight for the price, and the lingering lemony flavours are just divine."
- Toni Paterson MW (Halliday Wine Companion)