The Yarra Valley has a happy knack of turning out some delicious Chardonnay at around the twenty-dollar mark. Here’s another example. Hand picked, pressed to large format French oak, fermented on 100% juice solids using 80% ambient yeasts with occasional stirring with a delicate creamy texture.
Smells of grapefruit, freshly baked bread, cashews and almonds, pears, wheat germ and white stonefruits. A little honeysuckle perfume as well. Flavour builds through the line and shape is maintained by good line of acidity. Finishes all citrusy and chalky with a bit of woodspice. Seriously smart drinking.
Past Accolades and Awards:
2015 Vintage: 95 Points - James Halliday, Wine Companion "Hand-picked, whole bunch-pressed, free-run juice wild-fermented in new and used French barriques, matured for 9 months. White peach blossom is first out of the blocks on the bouquet and the palate alike, then it gets interesting as other white fruits shimmy with grapefruit, almond kernel and cashew also craving attention. It is a chardonnay that floats airily over, not in, the glass."
From the Winery
The Yarra Valley experienced slightly above average rainfall for the 2015 winter. This replenished the soils of much needed moisture leading into the growing season. The dry mild conditions through spring lowered the potential for disease. This enabled us to keep the vineyards in a clean healthy state. Very good yields and excellent quality appeared to be the theme from all vineyards this year.
100% hand picked fruit. Whole bunch pressed with free run and pressings portions kept separate. Indigenous fermentation in new and seasoned French barriques and puncheons. Barrels were lees stirred monthly until winter. No malolactic fermentation, to retain a fresh, natural acidity. French oak barrel fermentation with 10% new.
Don't Pay: $25.00
WBW Rating: 95/100
Closure: Stelvin
Region: Yarra Valley, VIC
Winemaker: Julian Grounds
Drink now until: 2026
Alc/Vol: 13 %
