Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2024

It stings the nostrils, slaps you into gear, and brings joy to the souls of Chardonnay lovers. What an incredible wine, from what was not your average vintage in Wadandi Country. Spiced lime sorbet, mandarin peel and a tangerine dream. In the mouth, the acid is pithy, driving through the centre with power and incisive focus. Everything is dialled up, yet detailed, with nothing outshining the other. The fruit is uber dense, showing fresh, preserved, salted and peak-season notes of grapefruit, candied mandarin and scraped vanilla bean, with a touch of curry leaf. From the earliest harvest on record, it may not live as long as other vintages, but it feels the most complete on release. Plenty of stuffing, palate-saturating tension, grip and drive, with salty acid layering the experience. Drink without food to start, make sure to have your most gossipy friend with you, then order another bottle and get incredibly indiscreet about things you probably shouldn’t.