2024 Xavier Avon Chardonnay

The Avon Chardonnay comes from a single hectare of old vines planted in 1987 at the Avon Vineyard, located in Maffra, Gippsland. Naturally lower yielding, these vines produce small, intensely flavored bunches that capture the purity and character of the site. With the help of ideal ripening conditions, the fruit came in beautifully balanced, carrying a fine line of minerality drawn from the quartz-rich soils of the vineyard. The fruit was hand-picked into 15kg baskets and hand-sorted directly into the press. Whole bunches were gently pressed, with the juice briefly settled in tank before being transferred to barrel for fermentation. The wine remained on full lees for 10 months, with barrels stirred once or twice prior to the completion of malolactic fermentation. It matured in French oak.