Kooyong Estate Chardonnay 2019

Made from grapes harvested from their Tuerong vineyard in the Mornington Peninsula, which was planted in 1996 to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and small quantities of Pinot Gris and Shiraz. In particular, it hails from the Faultline and Farrago blocks. The grapes were gently whole-bunch pressed, straight into French oak barriques (15% new), with fermentation by native yeasts. There followed 11 months ageing on lees, with no bâtonnage at all during this period. Bottling was without fining and with minimal filtration.

This is a cracking Chardonnay and compelling evidence that the Mornington Peninsula must be included in any debate about which are our top regions for the variety. The colour is like sunshine glinting off gold. The aromatics are a weave of peaches, florals, a hint of cashews, stonefruit, beeswax, spices and seamless oak integration. A creamy texture for the full length of this terrific wine. The intensity is maintained throughout, over nicely balanced acidity. Lovely complexity is evident, though there is no doubt more to come. Towards the finish, appealing passionfruit characters emerge. This offers five to six years at least, of delicious drinking. Really like this. It screams out for a crab salad.