Tolpuddle Unicorn Chard, Trophy-Winning Decades Pinot, Pannell's EPIC Twin Grenaches & More!
Welcome back to Wine Unfiltered! 🍷
Wade is officially back in the studio after the birth of his baby girl, and we're jumping straight into the deep end with a truly epic lineup!
We kick things off with one of the most sought-after white wines in the country: the 2025 Tolpuddle Chardonnay from Tasmania's Coal River Valley. We follow that up with the Decades Pinot Noir by Steve Flamsteed and Brad Rogers, which just took home the trophy for the best Pinot Noir at the Australian Pinot Noir Challenge.
Next, we dive into a bracket of exciting new-wave Australian wines, including a wildly textured oak-fermented Riesling from Vignerons Schmölzer & Brown, a slightly oxidative and deeply flavorful Adelaide Hills Chardonnay from J & S Fielke, and a beautifully perfumed Hunter River Burgundy-style Light Dry Red by Brendan Cass.
Finally, we taste what Tom believes might be the greatest Grenache ever made in Australia: SC Pannell's 'Sunrise' and 'Sunset' Grenache, sourced from the 100-year-old Little Branch vineyard in Blewitt Springs. Plus, a quick Booze News update on our nomination for Best Digital Communicator at the Australian Wine Communicators Awards, and Wade shakes off the sleep deprivation to tackle a blind wine!
🍷 THE WINES
• Tolpuddle Chardonnay 2025 — Sourced from the Coal River Valley. A Goldilocks vintage. Sold out unfortunately but the Pinot is available here.
https://www.differentdrop.com/products/2025-tolpuddle-vineyard-pinot-noir
• Decades Pinot Noir — Crafted by Steve Flamsteed and Brad Rogers in the Coal River Valley. A highly perfumed, red-fruited, and mineral Pinot utilizing a mix of 100% whole bunch and destemmed whole-berry fermentations.
https://www.differentdrop.com/products/2025-decades-pinot-noir
• Vignerons Schmölzer & Brown Thorley Vineyard Riesling 2024 — Grown at 820m elevation in Beechworth. Picked late, bone dry, and warm-fermented in oak with MLF, delivering incredible phenolic grip and three-dimensional texture.
https://www.differentdrop.com/products/2024-vignerons-schmolzer-brown-thorley-riesling
• J & S Fielke Lenswood Chardonnay 2025 — From Gemma and Steve in the Adelaide Hills. A full-throttled, slightly wild and oxidative Chardonnay with crackling mineral acid and rich fruit weight.
https://www.differentdrop.com/products/2025-j-s-fielke-lenswood-chardonnay
• Pokolbin Vintners Pokolbin Mountain Light Dry Red 2025 — Made by Brendan Cass in the Hunter Valley. An homage to the classic Hunter River Burgundies of the 60s: a light, fragrant, and flirtatious Shiraz.
https://www.differentdrop.com/products/2025-pokolbin-vintners-pokolbin-mountain-light-dry-red
• SC Pannell 'Sunrise' & 'Sunset' Little Branch Grenache — From an ironstone-speckled, 100-year-old Maslin sand vineyard in Blewitt Springs. 'Sunrise' (North-facing) is energetic and nervy, while 'Sunset' (West-facing) is a deeply composed, structured masterpiece.
https://www.differentdrop.com/products/2023-s-c-pannell-sunrise-100-grenache
https://www.differentdrop.com/products/2023-s-c-pannell-sunset-100-grenache
• Blind Wine: Mulline Syrah 2024 — A $35 Victorian Syrah showing medicinal, herbal cool-climate lift with bright, perfumed fruit.
https://www.differentdrop.com/products/2024-mulline-syrah
📺 CHAPTERS00:00 - Intro & Wade is a New Dad!
01:47 - Tolpuddle Chardonnay 2025
08:48 - Decades Pinot Noir & Steve Flamsteed's Trophy Win
15:31 - New Wave Bracket: Vignerons Schmölzer & Brown Thorley Riesling
21:32 - J & S Fielke Lenswood Chardonnay 2025
25:01 - Vintner's Light Dry Red 2025
28:56 - SC Pannell 'Sunrise' & 'Sunset' Grenache (The Best in Australia?)
39:50 - Booze News: We're Nominated for an Award!
42:07 - Getting Blind: Wade Guesses a Mystery Red #WineUnfiltered #DifferentDrop #Tolpuddle #SCPannell #DecadesPinot #SteveFlamsteed #BlewittSprings #Grenache #AustralianChardonnay #WineReview #winetasting