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95
/ 100
Gary Walsh
White
Classification
Chardonnay
Variety
2023
Vintage
750ml (Bottle)
Bottle Size
Australia
Country
Victoria, Yarra Valley
Region
13.0%
Alcohol %
15 Plus Years
Cellaring
Scores
95 / 100"Nectarine, ripe lemon, fennel, oatmeal with cinnamon, light cedar/vanilla oak. It’s a tighter expression of this wine, quite savoury too, nutty and saline, with a grainy texture, juicy grapefruit acidity, just ripe peach, lime, and some lemon zest on a finish of excellent length. I’d give it a year or two to settle in, but gee, it’s a good and lively release of this wine."
- Gary Walsh
Tasting Notes
The chardonnay vines are grown on an east facing, gentle slope allowing early morning and late afternoon sunshine. This aspect is perfect to grow top quality chardonnay grapes. Today the average age of the vines is over 40 years, which adds to the complexity of the fruit.
The chardonnay grapes are hand harvested early in the day and then pressed in an air bag press. The juice is then chilled, settled and inoculated with yeast before being transferred to a cool underground cellar for fermentation in new, one and two year old French oak barrels. The wine is left to age on the yeast lees with regular lees stirring to increase the texture of the wine. After around 11 months, the wine is fined and sent to bottle.
The 2023 Isabella chardonnay is a beautiful balance of restraint along with good ripeness. Made in tiny amounts - just 722 bottles - the wine truely reflects the season and is a snapshot of the Wantirna Estate microclimate. A real pureness of fruit comes from the 50-60 year old vines, gives the wine intensity and excellent acidity. It is drinking beautifully now, however it will age very well for many years to come. Just 4 barrels made.-
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity