Lane’s End Macedon Ranges Chardonnay 2023

I never get tired of trying Chardonnay from the Macedon Ranges so it was great to receive the Lane’s End with a few years in the bottle. It comes from vines with nearly 40 years of age, undergoing only 50% malo, then ageing in barrel and tank. It opens with lovely aromas of citrus, straw and peach, with some almond meal and sea spray developing with some air. Despite the two years in bottle, it’s still looking incredibly fresh and young, with not a touch of tertiary characters yet. The palate is a delight, with searing acid, medium body and relatively low alcohol (12.5%), with zippiness, tingly minerality and saltiness to boot. It’s drinking incredibly well now but will get even better.