Longview Macclesfield Chardonnay 2021

The Macclesfield range of wines has helped to showcase what a superb region the Adelaide Hills is for a number of varieties, not least of which is Chardonnay. And this is a cracker. From an elevated (400m) vineyard which offers a mix of Entav and Mendoza clones, the fruit is whole bunch pressed into a mix of French and Austrian oak puncheons (20% new, 20% second use, 60% third use) for twenty days barrel fermentation. There is then partial malo and then three months lees contact to enhance the complexity, the wine then enjoys a spell of nine months maturation. Just 3,500 bottles made. Pale gleaming yellow in colour, this is beautifully balanced offering fragrant notes of florals, nuts, Myer lemons, ginger and a character like wet river stones. This is all class. Finely focused, there is excellent oak integration and a lingering soft finish. A complete wine – everything in its place. Lovely now and drinking beautifully over the next five to six years.