2023 Moonambel Chardonnay

colour

Beautiful light straw colour, highlighted by flashes of green.

aroma

Oatmeal, peach and honey; also that ever-elusive character of struck match. A beautiful vanilla spice.

palate

The palate is intensely focused with a powerful, defined acidity to highlight the mealy-tropical fruit. Subtle Burgundy oak supports role the intense savoury and mineral flavours. 

cellaring

Enjoy this wine over the next five years.

vintage

The 2023 season saw due a continuation of cooler weather and nice rain prior to the growing season providing healthy vine growth. Cooler vintage temperatures produced fruit with vibrant natural acidity and refined, delicate characteristics.

winemaking

Fruit was handpicked and whole bunch pressed. The cloudy juice was then transferred directly to a mixture of new, 1- and 2-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.

region

Pyrenees, Victoria

variety

Chardonnay 

analysis

• Alcohol: 12.5%

Linguine alla Vongole with fresh parsley.

Toni Paterson, Halliday Wine Companion 2025

Individual in character, with a cascade of bright stone fruits, melon and grapefruit, with oak playing a prominent role, finishing with a peacock's tail of intense sweet-fruit flavours. The wine has great energy and uplift, but also depth, breadth and texture. Sugared almond and sulfide nuances add complexity. Heady, assertive and delicious.

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