Mount Mary Vineyard Chardonnay 2021

The 2021 Chardonnay leads with crushed nuts, curry leaves, apple blossom, wet slate/river stones, spring flowers and brine on the nose. It is incredibly fragrant here today. In the mouth, the wine is detailed and rich; it undulates across the palate with notes of salted white stone fruit, nashi pear, a hint of loquat, crushed cashew and a hint of mustard seed. It's all here. The wine is so pretty and restrained, but it is complete and powerful at the same time. There is sandalwood and saffron, and the oak is toasty and spiced but is so precisely embossed into the fruit that it supports rather than frames. Malolactic fermentation is eschewed here, and it is absolutely not required. This is a wine of detail and precision, and this is never truer than in this lovely, balanced season. What a lovely wine. It has palate-staining fruit. The wine gets better as it sits in the glass. 13.2% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2023 - 2043.

Hand picked, 20% whole-bunch pressed, the balance crushed and destemmed. Matured in French puncheons and barriques (30% new) for 11 months. A light, bright gold with green tinges. Seductive with its bouquet of melon, fresh fig, yellow peach, chamomile and a little lemongrass. A savoury nuance, too. On the palate, which is powerful, densely packed and structured, you'll find some grapefruit pith and hazelnut. Finishes extremely long, saline and gently grippy. Drink 2022 - 2030.