2021 Farr Rising Chardonnay

The Farr Rising chardonnay sits next to the Farr Rising pinot noir vineyard. Unlike the black soil of the latter, however, the chardonnays' soil has a large proportion of grey loam. This vineyard is more protected than other sites because of its undulation, but fertility and growing levels remain very low. The clones used for the chardonnay are a mixture of Dijon clones and Penfolds 58, all planted in 2001.

The fruit is hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed. All the solids are then collected and chilled before being put to barrel. The new barrel percentage of 20 to 30 per cent can consist of Allier and Vogue French forests. A natural fermentation will occur at cool temperatures over the next two months, and once this is finished a small amount of stirring helps start malolactic fermentation. After 11 months in barrel, the wine is racked, fined, and lightly filtered before bottling.

The site typically has citrus blossom, which lifts the well-integrated fruit and wet stone aromatics of this wine. The palate shows great drive, racy acidity, moving towards fine mineral elements. Chardonnay with understated power, length and subtlety from a very textured site with great balance.