Marchand & Burch Village Chardonnay 2024 

Sourced from the Mount Barrow vineyard in Great Southern at an elevation of 380 metres. Fermentation in French oak: 33% new, 33% one year old, 33% older. This opens with nutty tones of nougat and almond paste before a quick prettying-up thanks to citrus blossom, grapefruit and tangy lemon. A good swirl of the glass unlocks more core fruit aromas with the addition of nectarine and yellow apple. There’s some subtle pastry dough in the background from the lees, adding interest. Altogether, a rounded and attractive perfume showing lovely complexity. The palate is bright, lifted and packed with pithy white grapefruit, lemon, almond, cedar and nectarine. There’s a good balance of tension and texture, helped by a firm line of chalky phenolics and lemony acidity which draw to solid length. I like this for its complexity, structure and linear feel. A strong release, ready to drink now.