Circulus Wine Chardonnay 2024 

There’s a well-judged mix of primary fruit and secondary complexity here, with freshness a clear marker. Pear and poached apple lead into ripe lime, preserved lemon, grilled nectarine, and quince jelly, followed by a dusting of nutmeg and a touch of dried thyme. Hints of grilled nuts and nougat offer a savoury foil to the fruit, with some bâtonnage-derived pastry dough notes emerging with air. The palate mirrors the nose, packed with fresh fruit and a pleasing bite of intensity – pear, apple, preserved lemon, green almond, nectarine, cedar, and pastry dough. Texture is ample, with chalky phenolics providing structure and dimension before a fruit-driven finish of good length. To my mind, a clear step up from the 2023.