2025 Bremley Chardonnay | Coal River Valley, Tasmania | 94 Points

🏆 94 Points | The Secret Tasmanian Vineyard Behind Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay!

94 Points – Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

The Extraordinary Coal River Valley Vineyard That Helped Produce One of Australia's Greatest Chardonnays!

2025 Bremley Vineyard Chardonnay

Coal River Valley, Tasmania

RRP $55

What if I told you that you could drink Chardonnay from a Tasmanian vineyard whose fruit has gone into the legendary Penfolds Yattarna?

And what if I told you that the wine is made by two of Tasmania's most accomplished winemakers?

Justin Bubb and Anna Pooley!

Well, that's exactly what we have here.

2025 Bremley Vineyard Chardonnay.

And what an exciting discovery this is!

94 POINTS – GARY WALSH, THE WINE FRONT!

This is serious Tasmanian Chardonnay.

Beautiful white peach.

Fresh grapefruit and lime.

Fine almond and aniseed complexity.

Subtle spicy oak.

And a wonderful flinty mineral character that carries through to a long, fresh finish.

But the story behind this vineyard is every bit as exciting as the wine itself.

This is exactly the sort of producer I love discovering at Liquid Vibe!

Bremley Vineyard – The Secret Behind Some Extraordinary Australian Chardonnay

Here's something most people wouldn't know.

For years, Bremley Vineyard was supplying fruit to other Australian wine producers rather than making wines under its own label.

And among the wines to benefit from its extraordinary Chardonnay fruit was:

PENFOLDS YATTARNA!

That's right.

One of Australia's most prestigious Chardonnays.

A wine that has helped define the very top end of Australian white wine.

And Bremley fruit has been part of that story.

But here's what makes this particularly fascinating.

For years, many wine lovers would have had absolutely no idea where some of that exceptional Chardonnay fruit originated.

They knew the finished wine.

They knew the famous label.

But not necessarily the vineyard behind it.

Now, thanks to James and Vanessa Bresnehan, wine lovers can experience Chardonnay bottled under the Bremley name.

And at an RRP of just $55, that's a seriously exciting proposition.

James and Vanessa Bresnehan – From the Royal Australian Navy to Extraordinary Tasmanian Wine

The Bremley story is fascinating.

James and Vanessa Bresnehan previously had careers in the Royal Australian Navy.

But in 2008, they purchased a property in Tasmania's Coal River Valley.

The original plan wasn't to establish one of the state's most exciting boutique wineries.

They were looking for a rural lifestyle.

But the property came with something very special.

An established Chardonnay vineyard.

Over time, James and Vanessa recognised the extraordinary potential of the site.

They expanded the vineyard.

Improved its management.

And developed a deep understanding of the property.

Today, Bremley comprises approximately 13 hectares of vines, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Gamay.

But Chardonnay was where it all began.

And it's still one of the great treasures of the property.

The Northernmost Vineyard in the Coal River Valley

Here's another fascinating detail.

Bremley is located at the northern end of Tasmania's Coal River Valley.

And the vineyard occupies a remarkable natural position.

It sits beneath Gunnings Sugarloaf, in a sheltered amphitheatre.

The surrounding landscape provides protection from the harsh north-westerly winds that can affect vineyards during summer.

But the site still benefits from long, sunny growing days.

And because of its position inland, the nights can become particularly cool.

That combination is enormously important for Chardonnay.

Warm enough days to develop beautiful fruit concentration.

Cool nights to preserve natural acidity.

And a growing season that allows flavour and structure to develop together.

It's a magnificent combination for premium Chardonnay.

Black Cracking Clay and Dolerite – A Fascinating Vineyard Geology

The soils at Bremley are another reason this vineyard is so interesting.

Much of the site features black cracking clay intermixed with dolerite.

These are very different soils from those found in many of Australia's other great Chardonnay regions.

Dolerite is an igneous rock that is particularly important in Tasmania's geological landscape.

The clay-rich soils influence water availability, drainage and vine growth.

And the vineyard's distinctive geology forms part of the conditions that shape its wines.

It's important not to think of flinty or mineral flavours as simply being transferred from rocks into grapes.

But soil structure, water availability, climate and vineyard management can profoundly influence fruit development.

And Bremley produces Chardonnay with wonderful structure and mineral precision.

Justin Bubb and Anna Pooley – Two Outstanding Tasmanian Winemakers

When James and Vanessa decided to produce wines under their own label, they wanted to work with people who truly understood Tasmanian vineyards.

They turned to:

Justin Bubb and Anna Pooley.

Two enormously experienced winemakers.

And a husband-and-wife partnership with a remarkable understanding of cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Justin and Anna also produce wines under their own Bubb + Pooley label.

Their approach is thoughtful and precise.

Exceptional fruit.

Careful pressing.

Beautifully judged oak.

And a determination to allow the vineyard to express itself.

The first Bremley wines were released from the 2021 vintage.

And the quality has attracted serious attention.

It's not difficult to understand why.

The 2025 Chardonnay – A Beautifully Detailed Wine

The 2025 Bremley Chardonnay is a wonderful example of modern Tasmanian Chardonnay.

And the winemaking is particularly interesting.

100% whole-bunch pressed fruit.

The juice was settled before being transferred to French oak puncheons.

Approximately 30% new François Frères oak was used.

The wine then spent approximately nine months maturing in barrel, with minimal lees stirring.

That last detail is important.

Some Chardonnay producers use frequent lees stirring to build considerable richness and creaminess.

But the Bremley approach is more restrained.

The emphasis is on preserving fruit purity while developing enough texture and savoury complexity to make the wine interesting.

The finished wine was gently filtered and bottled unfined.

It's also vegan friendly.

And the alcohol?

13.5%.

A beautifully judged approach to a wonderful vineyard.

Tasting Notes – White Peach, Grapefruit, Lime and Flinty Precision

This is a Chardonnay with real personality.

Gary Walsh's review captures its character beautifully.

The aromas reveal:

• Fresh white peach

• Grapefruit

• Lime zest

• Delicate almond

• Aniseed

• Fine spicy oak

• Subtle flinty complexity

The palate is beautifully lively.

There's excellent citrus concentration, with grapefruit and lime providing freshness and energy.

White peach adds lovely fruit depth.

The oak contributes a subtle spicy character.

Almond and aniseed bring another layer of complexity.

But what really makes this Chardonnay stand out is the texture.

There's a wonderful fine grip through the palate.

A flinty, almost chalky character.

And a distinctive cool freshness.

Gary Walsh also identifies an intriguing watermelon-rind character.

That's a fascinating tasting note.

It captures something of the wine's cool, refreshing personality.

And the finish?

Fresh. Long. Beautifully persistent.

White peach. Grapefruit. Lime. Almond. Aniseed. Fine spice. Flinty mineral grip.

This is Chardonnay with serious class.

94 Points – Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

Gary Walsh awarded the 2025 Bremley Chardonnay:

94 POINTS – THE WINE FRONT!

His September 2026 review highlights the wine's combination of white peach, grapefruit, lime, almond and aniseed.

He also notes its lively personality, good flavour concentration, flinty grip and long, refreshing finish.

And importantly, his assessment suggests there's further development ahead.

For a Chardonnay at an RRP of $55, this is a very impressive result.

The Vineyard Has Already Produced Award-Winning Wines

Here's another reason Bremley deserves attention.

The winery won the 2024 Australian Pinot Noir Challenge.

That's a significant achievement.

And it demonstrates that this vineyard is capable of producing exceptional fruit across more than one variety.

The Chardonnay has also attracted outstanding reviews.

The 2024 Bremley Chardonnay received 96 points from Nick Ryan in The Weekend Australian.

That's the previous vintage, not the 2025.

But it shows just how much potential this remarkable vineyard has.

Why the Coal River Valley Is So Special

Tasmania's Coal River Valley has become one of Australia's most important Chardonnay regions.

And it's home to some extraordinary producers.

Tolpuddle.

Stargazer.

Pooley.

Decades.

Bubb + Pooley.

And Bremley.

What makes the region particularly compelling is its ability to produce Chardonnay with both flavour concentration and beautiful natural acidity.

The finest examples combine:

Fresh citrus.

White peach.

Subtle savoury complexity.

Fine mineral structure.

And extraordinary length.

And Bremley is a fascinating expression of the region.

Particularly because of its position at the northern end of the valley.

For Lovers of Great White Burgundy

If you love Chardonnay with citrus purity, subtle oak and mineral precision, this is a wine that deserves your attention.

Think about the qualities that make great white Burgundy so compelling.

Fresh citrus.

White stone fruit.

Fine acidity.

Subtle oak.

Savoury complexity.

And beautiful length.

The Bremley Chardonnay delivers many of those qualities.

But it does so with its own distinctive Tasmanian character.

It's not trying to imitate Burgundy.

It's expressing a remarkable vineyard in the Coal River Valley.

And that's what makes it so exciting.

Cellaring Potential

The 2025 Bremley Chardonnay is beautifully fresh and lively.

But its fine acidity, concentrated fruit and structural grip suggest excellent potential for further development.

Suggested drinking window: 2026–2033.

I'd happily open a bottle now.

But I'd also put a few away.

As it matures, the citrus and white peach characters should develop deeper nutty and savoury complexity.

And that wonderful acidity should continue to provide freshness and definition.

Food Pairings

This is a magnificent food wine.

I'd recommend:

• Fresh Tasmanian scallops

• King George whiting

• Southern rock lobster

• Grilled snapper

• Roast chicken with lemon and thyme

• Mushroom risotto

• Grilled crayfish

• Comté or Gruyère

Personally, I'd love this with freshly grilled scallops, brown butter and lemon.

The wine's citrus freshness and flinty mineral structure would be absolutely sensational.

Why We Love It at Liquid Vibe

Because this is exactly what makes discovering great Australian Chardonnay so exciting.

A remarkable vineyard with a fascinating history.

Fruit that has contributed to Penfolds Yattarna.

Two extraordinarily talented winemakers.

A unique natural amphitheatre beneath Gunnings Sugarloaf.

Black cracking clay and dolerite soils.

Beautifully restrained winemaking.

And an outstanding 94-point review.

Look at what you're getting.

2025 Bremley Vineyard Chardonnay

Coal River Valley, Tasmania

Owners – James and Vanessa Bresnehan

Winemakers – Justin Bubb and Anna Pooley

Vineyard Fruit Previously Used in Penfolds Yattarna

100% Whole-Bunch Pressed

30% New French Oak

Nine Months Barrel Maturation

13.5% Alcohol

Vegan Friendly

94 Points – Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

RRP $55

This is serious Chardonnay.

But it's also incredibly enjoyable.

A wine with beautiful fruit purity, fine mineral tension and extraordinary freshness.

And for anyone who loves discovering exciting boutique Australian producers, Bremley should be firmly on your radar.

2025 BREMLEY VINEYARD CHARDONNAY

COAL RIVER VALLEY, TASMANIA

94 POINTS – THE WINE FRONT!

RRP $55

FROM THE VINEYARD THAT HELPED PRODUCE PENFOLDS YATTARNA!

MADE BY JUSTIN BUBB AND ANNA POOLEY!

WHITE PEACH. GRAPEFRUIT. LIME. ALMOND. ANISEED. FLINTY MINERALITY. EXTRAORDINARY FRESHNESS.

ONE OF TASMANIA'S MOST EXCITING SINGLE-VINEYARD CHARDONNAYS – AND A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY FOR SERIOUS CHARDONNAY LOVERS!