2021 Dalwhinnie Moonambel Chardonnay

Fruit was handpicked and whole bunch pressed. The cloudy juice was then transferred directly to a mixture of new, one and two year old French oak puncheons (500L) and barriques (228L). Fermentation occurred spontaneously with wild yeast over the next three weeks. Post-ferment the barrels were topped and the wine matured in place for the next nine months before careful barrel selection and bottling.

The wine has a beautiful light straw colour, highlighted by golden tints. Oatmeal, peach and honey on the nose; also that ever-elusive character of struck match. A beautiful vanilla spice. On the palate it’s intensely focused with a powerful, defined acidity to highlight the mealy-tropical fruit. Subtle Burgundy oak supports role the intense savoury and mineral flavours. Enjoy over the next five to ten years. – Julian Langworthy, Dalwhinnie Winemaker 

The 2021 Chardonnay is subtly yet distinctly different from the 2020, which was the last vintage reviewed. Here, the wine leads with white spring flowers, apple blossom, crushed cashews and very fine, lacy minerals on the nose. In the mouth, the wine is soft, fresh and balanced; the flavors blanket the tongue in an airy kind of way. It’s a lovely wine, showing the impact of further development in the vineyard (better canopy management, providing less exposed fruit) and the winemaking style. 93 points. Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate 2024