September Helan Chardonnay 2024
- 95
- $62
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Fermented at 16°C over seven days from Gezi Mountain fruit, half the blend spends six months in new French oak undergoing malolactic fermentation while the other half rests in neutral oak — part of Gigi Gao’s family-run 20-hectare Ningxia vineyard planted in 2009. Vivid pale gold colour. Savoury tones of smoked honey, toasted nuts and clotted cream sit above a lovely fresh and pure fruit profile in just ripe yellow peach, white pear and golden apple. Despite what those savoury notes might conjure, this is bright and energetic with the fruit and savoury mix on point. The energy and brightness carries through on the palate, with the lees influence bringing a measured, balanced creaminess to the texture. It’s subtly chalky through the finish where the savoury tones sing once more as it glides to cool, even length thanks to surging acidity. Vim and vigour. I like this a lot.
Tom Kline is a wine writer, reviewer, presenter, and educator based in Victoria, Australia. He is the Australian correspondent for the internationally respected publications Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy and Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux, where he highlights the top tier of Australian wine for a global audience. Tom also writes for leading outlets including Decanter (UK), Wine Spectator (US), and Halliday Magazine, among others. An experienced wine show judge and WSET educator, he has authored several consumer-focused wine courses aimed at making wine more accessible and engaging. In 2023, Tom was awarded Best Published Feature Article or Wine Column at the prestigious Wine Communicator Awards, presented by Wine Communicators of Australia.
