2012 was a fantastic Yarra Valley vintage and that coupled with grapes from the exceptional Tarraford vineyard makes this wine a star of the vintage.
Line and length are on show here along with the orange citrus characters that are hallmarks of this wine. Nectarine, almonds, sourdough bread with hints of smoke and toast. The oak is very integrated and adds to overall texture and complexity without dominating. The finish is emphatic – this stunning chardy is coming into the best years of its life.
The 8.5ha Tarraford Vineyard is planted on grey clay-loam soils across north, south and east-facing slopes in the Tarrawarra area of the lower Yarra Valley. It was planted in 1988. The sheltered location is in a warmer part of the valley but enjoys a microclimate cooler than neighbouring sites. Chardonnay grown here has natural high acidity and typically shows persistent flavour, tight, fine structure and a zesty, lemon/grapefruit finish.
The grapes for this wine are picked early, by hand, for freshness, whole-bunch pressed and then fermented in 500 litre French oak puncheons using natural, indigenous yeasts. The wine spends another nine months on lees, in oak (20% new) with lees-stirring in the first month only.