Onannon Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay

A mix of five vineyards from the Tuerong, Main Ridge, Merricks, Shoreham, and Merricks Nth sub-regions. All of the fruit was handpicked and pressed directly into barrels and puncheons without the use of SO2 to oxidise the juice. After fermentation, the wine is kept on its gross lees to undergo Malolactic fermentation. The wines are left on gross lees with an occasional stir and are only lightly sulphured prior to bottling. 20% of the oak is new.

Samphire, ripe grapefruit, apple crumble, some spice. Juicy, savoury too with an umami quality of white mushrooms and white miso, Scotch Finger biscuit, flinty with it, saline and savoury on a long lime-laced finish. Complex and individual. Such a great thing to drink. 94 points. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front Oct 2023