Standard - 75cl
ETA: 3-4 months
Light bright yellow with a smoky, nutty, barrel fermented bouquet which also packs seaspray/oyster-shell, mixed spices and talcy aromas into the mix. In the mouth it's very intense and focused, tensioned and crisp, without strident acidity but lovely refreshing properties. A superb wine, quietly complex and penetrating, obviously barrel-fermented but not showing too-overt oak. The acidity is bright and refreshing and cleanses the aftertaste. Amazing length. Magical stuff.
The 2022 Chardonnay is a ripper. It is really intensely flavored and has a profusion of firm, ductile tannins. The fruit is spicy and leans into salted pineapple, a hint of kiwi fruit, shaved fennel, white peach and brine. The phenolics are making themselves felt through the finish, and I put this down to the wine evolving; it ages brilliantly, or so I think, and it is just setting itself on its trajectory now. This is very good, and it will be better. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
Always a very good chardonnay. Often among the New World's best. This said, it is always a pungent, flinty reductive iteration, considerably different to the more generous norm in these parts. Medium-bodied and typically taut, reeling off truffle, leesy oatmeal and white peach notes across a tautly furled, almost gritty climax of praline and hazelnut accents. This will age exceptionally well. Drink or hold. Screw cap.