Marchand & Burch Mount Barker Chardonnay 2023
- 93
- $95
- Drink by: 2024-2034
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What a delight this is! The initial impression is lifted aromatics not often associated with Chardonnay – wildflowers and a hint of fresh lavender. The fruit is sourced from the Mount Barrow vineyard, at the eastern end of the Mount Barker subregion in Great Southern, Western Australia. The elevated site offers cooler growing temperatures, hence the unexpected florals, and aromas of freshly cut grapefruit and seashell minerality. There is excellent concentration and drive on the palate with fine, refreshing acidity. Mixed citrus and ripe peach flavours come to the fore with a very well balanced spicy cardamom and nutmeg from 40% new oak in a range of barrel sizes. Beautiful length and texture round out the experience. This is a wee poppet of a wine age-wise and will cellar beautifully.
Nicole loves wine. So much so that she gave up a successful career in Pharmacy, perfected her spitting technique, and moved from sunny Queensland to the wine-drenched laneways of Melbourne. Stints in hospitality, wineries, retail, sales and marketing filled the next few years while Nicole built her knowledge and searched for the right path. She completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Diploma in 2016 and became a certified WSET Educator the following year. She now juggles a number of roles including teaching people about wine, curating wines lists for restaurants and bars, judging in Australian wine shows and, of course, writing. In 2016 she won the Negociants Working With Wine writing award and has since contributed to Gourmet Traveller WINE, Halliday Wine Companion Magazine and Nourish Magazine.
