Description
Canobolas Wines (formerly Canobolas-Smith) is the third oldest vineyard and one of the most significant producers of premium wine in the Orange region. The vineyard and winery were established by the Smith family in 1985. They chose the site after a lengthy search for an ideal combination of climate, soil and aspect to be able to create great wine. The part of the mountain which we are situated on are the remnants of an extinct volcanic complex which erupted in several phases between 11-13 million years ago, making it a relatively recent geological feature. The basalt rock that was created by the lava flows has broken up over millions of years, forming the deep rich red soils that are excellent for grape growing and wine production. The resulting soils are known as Red Ferrosols (Krasnozems). The blocks have varying composition; our top Chardonnay coming from the deepest red soil, and the best Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc coming from the stoniest part to the vineyard where shards of basalt and small amounts of fine quartz fragments can be found nearer the surface. There is a gradual change across the vineyard slope creating unique pockets of terroir. We keep the parcels separate during fermentation to tease out and discover the expression and diversity of soil within our site. The Mattick family – Jonathon Mattick and wife Limei took ownership of the property in 2021, with the introduction of regenerative farming and organic practices being central to their new philosophy.
About this wine and the 2024 vintage from the winemakers: “The region experienced a quintessential cool climate season, from the lower vineyards around 600m to the higher elevations at 1000m, all varieties ripened beautifully, producing flawless fruit. The Chardonnay is a stand-out again this year. Small tight bunches, intense driving acidity, and enough flavour to bring depth and complexity to the resulting wines. The palate is powerful, layered and textured with grapefruit, lemon pith and minerality. This wine is destined for a very long life, we expect it will be drinking well for the next 20 years or so.”
Mattick wants wines that carry tension, texture, freshness, and depth, and this Chardonnay is very much built in that mould. The fruit comes from the vineyard’s deepest red soils, which Mattick believes give the wine its particular power and extract. The vines are now around 40 years old and, in 2024, delivered small, tight bunches with formidable acidity and more than enough flavour to meet it.
Wild fermented and raised in 20% new oak, with 50% malolactic fermentation, this is a Chardonnay with plenty going on but nothing out of place. It feels very much a product of a classic cool-climate vintage: concentrated, energetic and built with the sort of bones that suggest a long future. Jonathon believes it will age for decades; there’s little here to argue with that assessment.
Best Chardonnay Orange Region 3 years in a row – Halliday Wine Companion
96+ points, Shanteh Wale, Halliday Wine Companion “A calm and temperate vintage for Orange, this was picked over four non-consecutive days. From vines planted in ’85 on red ferrosol soils. Indigenous yeast ferment, 50% mlf, matured for 11 months in 20% new oak and an additional seven months on lees in stainless steel tanks. The wine opens with crumbly bedrock, marigold and banksia. Its mineral core sweeps through with riverstone and licks of lemon salt. Citron is a constant thread throughout, with undulating waves of acidity and phenolic pomelo pith to finish. Power and drive now, but a bit more time in the bottle, and this will continue to unfurl. Another joyous wine from Canobolas.”
RRP $55 Our Special Price $57.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
