A warm summer, with cool night-time temperatures, produced fine, intense Chardonnay grapes. Vintage 2017 has been a hallmark year affording excellent fruit sweetness, balanced with refreshing acidity and classic minerality.

Chardonnay was grown at our Merindoc vineyard in the southern part of the Heathcote wine region. A cooler climate and granite over ironstone soils produce Chardonnay with delicate stone-fruit characters, citrus-like acidity and mineral undertones. Barrel fermentation with seasoned French oak adds complexity to the full integrated palate

Chardonnay was hand-harvested in March and whole-bunch pressed to minimise the extraction of excess phenolic characters.

The juice was then cold settled and racked prior to fermentation in French oak barriques. After completion of the primary fermentation, a portion underwent malolactic fermentation to further soften the wine and contribute texture.

Rested in barrel for 9 months with regular lees stirring before blending and bottling under screwcap in January 2018.