Howard Park Miamup Chardonnay 2021

As with the other wines in this range, the fruit is selected from a range of vineyards and individual blocks. In this case, they hail largely from the Wilyabrup sub-region. Harvest is in the cool of the night. Fermentation, which happens at temperatures of between 18ºC to 22ºC, takes place in a mix of older French oak and stainless-steel tank. There is regular lees stirring, with the wine spending ten months on those lees, before blending, fining, filtration and bottling. The colour here is a deeper yellow and the nose immediately offers notes of melon, nuts, stonefruit, orange rind, spices and a hint of grapefruit. There is also a pleasing chewy texture, fine balance, good intensity and impressive length. This is lovely now and will drink well for at least another three to four years.