Chardonnay 2021

A crisp and precise Chardonnay with inviting citrus and stone fruit aromas leading to a palate of fresh honeydew melon with a delicious nutty character.

The Chardonnay grapes were grown in the Banksdale vineyard, located in the King Valley of Northeast Victoria. Nestled among the foothills of the Australian Alps and it is becoming renowned for its cool-climate and diverse terroir. The Banksdale Vineyard is planted at 485 metres elevation, where it experiences warm, sunny days and cooler evenings, influenced by the katabatic breeze that sweeps northward down the valley from the high country. This diurnal temperature difference encourages a long hang time, during which the grapes reach good phenolic maturity and varietal complexity, while retaining balancing acidity. The soils are varied, but the predominant soil type in the Kings Valley is a deep, red clay which offers a good balance between good water retention properties to sustain the vines through the warm days, but also enough drainage so the right amount of stress encourages the concentration of flavours.

The grapes were harvested at a Baumé level ranging from 12 to 12.5. 60% of this wine was fermented in French oak to impart gentle toasty character, while the remaining 40% was fermented in stainless steel to retain the purity of fruit and freshness. The wine was aged for nine months in French oak, of which 14% was new.