Our first Whitlands Chardonnay since 2021! 100% Chardonnay from the Celeste vineyard, Whitlands, King Valley, Victoria, planted by the great Dr Jim Hardie. We have been looking after this vineyard for 9 years now and have gradually seen its exciting return to form after some years in the wilderness. Managed organically with only copper and sulphur sprays.
A lovely site to grow Chardonnay, with intensely cold nights but good sunlight hours leading to the development of a traditionally very flavoursome grape... and excellent solar panel ROIs.
Whole bunch pressed post-picking and fermented in one 3-year old French and one 2 year old Hungarian oak puncheons. Racked only twice during its 12 month ageing. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with a small sulphur addition at bottling.
Tasting note:
Nose of bircher muesli and candied paw paw, with a palate of lime zest, lemon myrtle, and yellow box honey. Lively acidity which drives the palate, fresh and vibrant with serious length and complexity. Best enjoyed with well made gravlax from a salmon you caught in NZ
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