A. Rodda Baxendale Vineyard Chardonnay 2022

Description

Adrian Rodda has been involved in making wine since 1998, spending more than decade at Oakridge Wines in the Yarra Valley. In 2010, Adrian moved to Beechworth in the North East of Victoria to produce a Chardonnay from the Smiths Vineyard, the oldest vineyard in modern Beechworth viticulture. In 2012, Adrian commenced the “Chardonnay Project” whereby he sources grapes from the Willow Lake Vineyard in the Yarra Valley and vinifies them in parallel with the Smiths Vineyard Chardonnay. In 2017, a third single vineyard Chardonnay was produced from the Baxendale Vineyard at Whitlands in the cool upper reaches of North East Victoria.

About this wine: The Baxendale Vineyard, situated just north of the Mansfield-Whitfield Road, was planted in 1995 in tertiary volcanic soils over rhyolite at 600 metres above sea level. The block has a consistent northerly aspect.

Grapes were hand picked and pressed to 500 litre French oak puncheons (34% first use) without clarification or racking for non-temperature controlled fermentation. Upon completion of fermentation, the wine was immediately sulphured to preserve freshness and acidity and rested on its lees for 12 months. The wine was transferred to tank for a further 4 months prior to bottling.

Highly lifted aromas of red apples and meadow flowers are complexed with secondary characters of wax and flint. The mouthfeel is lithe with intense minerality and creamy/lees texture supported by refined acidity giving the wine focus and great length of palate.

Winner – Top Gold and Best in Region at James Halliday Australian Chardonnay & Cabernet Challenge 2023

94 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front “Friand and spice, floral, melon and grapefruit. Firm acidity, a little green apple, distinctly flinty and chalky, with something of a sappy-sour-edged, yet also slightly creamy almond finish of good length. Pretty tight, but very nice.”

RRP $53  Our Special Price $45.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine