Fleet Tarrawarra Chardonnay 2024

The fruit for this wine comes from the acclaimed Denton Vineyard in Tarrawarra, Yarra Valley. Planted in 1995, it’s south-facing and sits at 200 metres above sea level offering a naturally cooler profile throughout the growing season. There’s freshness and vibrancy on display here thanks to high quality fruit and clever winemaking. The aromas are initially quite tight but unfurl nicely to show nashi pear, white nectarine and lemon zest sitting above almond and riverstone minerality first off. Air unlocks yellow apple, kumquat, delicate smoky grilled peach and a glimmer of pastry dough. It’s coiled and febrile at this early stage of its lifespan requiring coaxing out of the glass, but what’s there is alluring. The palate has a lovely bright texture with a good bite of preserved lemon and green almond bitterness setting the scene, before grilled peach, Meyer lemon, white nectarine again and a mineral aesthetic similar to the nose. Some delicate but pithy phenolics add to the bitter tone with a line of cleansing acidity bringing freshness through a long finish. A lovely wine in need of decanting at this early stage.