St Johns Wine The Terraces Optimus Chardonnay 2025

I’ve seen a few of these wines over the years, and to me this is perhaps the most refined and delicate of all of them. Whether it’s a new direction for the winemaking or a product of vintage, I’m not sure. But the wine has that elegance of modern Chardonnay, while still retaining the richness and complexity that comes with the original winemaking style, which revolves around wild fermentation and maturation with regular stirring in French oak, all designed to bring complexity and depth within a textured framework. The aromas lift with typical nectar and stone fruit-like subtleties, a little lemon rind edginess and some smooth, creamy cashew. The palate is neatly harnessed with fine acidity and a slightly savoury, minerally combination that carries through to the finish. It’s a neatly crafted wine.