Rowlee R Series Chardonnay 2023

Rowlee’s R series represents their reserve wines – the finest parcels treated with the utmost care. Slow fermentation in French oak and regular lees stirring builds texture and exceptional complexity. The aromas open with a hint of struck match, quickly fleshed out with bright yuzus and white peach. There’s a hint of vanilla bean crème brûlée and toasted hazelnuts; offering a prediction of the future of this wine. If you thought the aromas were enticing, the palate takes it up a notch, with a magnificent balancing act of flavour concentration and finesse. There’s honeysuckle, a melange of citrus and stonefruit, alongside a nutty, savoury, fresh hay note. Mouth-filling and silky with a dusting of phenolics that are whisked away by beautifully integrated, precise acidity. So much depth and complexity at just 2 years old and so much promise for a stunning evolution in the cellar. Drink some now, and try (although I recognise the challenge) to keep some for later.