2022 Stefano Lubiana Estate Chardonnay

It is a relaxed style of chardonnay that is full of personality. This wine displays great drinkability – soft, alluring and satisfying. Fruit from the 2022 vintage was nothing short of exceptional. Picked on time at the pinnacle of ripeness, with great flavour and balance, it possesses qualities all winemakers wish and strive for. This chardonnay showcases bright notes of custard apple, peach and talc on the nose coupled with seamless layers of stone fruits, orange and meal on the palate. Light tannins and creamy acid round out the finish.
Hand-picked grapes are processed immediately to preserve their integrity and purity. All fruit is pressed first then barrelled by gravity to the underground cellar. The juice, on full solids, fills an assortment of barriques. These are manufactured by small French coopers – with a balanced level of new oak. The juice’s indigenous yeast now takes the stage and erupts into spontaneous fermentation, bubbling away in our naturally cool and calm underground cellar. Once the wine is dry secondary fermentation begins with inoculation. Barrels are topped regularly and battonaged (barrel lees stirring) infrequently. This is how the French masters have been making chardonnay for generations. – Stefano Lubiana