Nose

The 2017 Block 6 Chardonnay has mineral aromatics with background savoury flinty notes.
The fruit is in the fresh white pear spectrum with perhaps some citric elements.

Palate

The palate is complex with good carryover of fruit expression. Vibrant and with a lightness
about it this wine, it is far from the old fashioned Australian Chardonnay of the 1980’s. The old vine
depth of fruit provides a complexity not seen in most Chardonnay - there is always more to find in the
wine without it being overworked or over-blown. This is a beautiful wine with depth of flavour and
texture that will stand up in a fine dining situation.

Growing Conditions

Vintage 2017 is over, and what a long, and strange, one it was. Every vintage is different;
lessons learned from the previous year don’t always help the following year.
The 2017 vintage started late, two to three weeks later than the preceding couple of years. Early
ripening varieties such as Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc were harvested in the first week of March. The
reason for this was the mild, cool spring weather experienced all across the southern part of the state.
This can be quite beneficial as cool ripening conditions helps maintain the fresh, bright aromas of these
early white varieties. Varieties like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from 2017 are quite stunning in
their liveliness and flavour at relatively low alcohol levels.

Winemaking

Only the best ‘free run’ component of the juice was used resulting in the finest
and brightest fruit expression with the least amount of phenolic impact. The juice was fermented in
French oak barriques; 30% new with the balance being one, two and three years old, before maturing
in barriques for a further 10 months. No lees stirring or malolactic fermentation occurred, preserving
and highlighting the purity of fruit expression. The wine expresses the character of this superb vineyard
in an elegant and restrained style that is bright, vibrant and fresh in its youth and will benefit from
medium-term cellaring.

Appearance

Brilliant appearance, great clarity and the lightest of green hues.