Chardonnay 2023

Our Winemaker's Comment

The 2023 Sugar Loaf Chardonnay was entirely sourced from low-cropping old vines on the Sugar Loaf 'Home Black'.

This is one of the warmer parts of the vineyard and this fruit was hand harvested and de-stemmed before being very gently pressed, settled for 12hrs and placed into a mixture of large format French Oak Puncheons & Barriques.

Post ferment lees stirring took place weekly for 6 months and the wine underwent 100% Malolactic fermentation.

Review

This barrel-fermented expression ticks all the boxes of fresh stone fruits and baking spices, burnt butter, and a nut-rich seam of complexity. Peaches and apples, some sweet grapefruit, vanilla and toast. Delicious, classic and ready-to-drink textures and flavours. 

A youthful squeeze as the wine touches the palate with medium+ acidity, and as this dissolves the flavours of orchard fruits remerge reflecting the bouquet. A satin texture emerges as the wine becomes more ambient and opens out in glass. A whisper of gun flint adds depth and complexity. Best drinking from late 2024 through 2028+

- Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier