Southern Light Vineyards Seven Slopes of Rising Yarra Chardonnay Nillumbik 2024

The team behind those wonderful Ghostgum wines from the Mornington Peninsula have now released a series of single vineyard wines from the Yarra Valley from the 2024 vintage. They are seriously impressive and definitely worth your attention. This cracking Chardonnay came from two blocks in the Seven Slopes of Rising Vineyard in the Yarra, different clones and different aspects. Both batches were kept separate. The grapes were whole bunch pressed to French oak barrels, some 300-litres and some 500-litres, with 35% of them new. Wild yeast fermentation was followed by a year maturing on lees. This, like all wines in the range, was bottled under an agglomerate cork. Deep lemon in colour, this is beautifully structured. We have notes of melons, grilled cashews, peaches, ginger, nectarines, stone fruits and florals. Exquisitely balanced, it really does have such a stunning nose and this continues on the palate. There are notes of spicy/cinnamon oak evident. A wine which dances on the palate and has extraordinary length, it runs the tightrope of power and elegance. A line of fine acidity helps tie things together. Enjoy this over the next eight years.