Description
Top shelf chardonnay made by Curly Flat, the superstars of Victoria’s Mt Macedon. Is this Australia’s finest chardonnay? What a joy it is to drink this!
Situated in the cool climate of Victoria’s Macedon Ranges Curly Flat has long been regarded as one of Australia’s finest producers of Pinot Noir. Curly Flat owes its success to Phillip Moraghan and Jeni Kolkka’s fanatical attention to the vineyard started in 1989 – one of the coolest grape growing regions in mainland Australia…perfectly suited to chardonnay and pinot noir. The site with its elevation of 560 metres and location south of the Great Dividing Range produces innately high natural acidity. 100% estate grown fruit, biodynamic practices, no herbicides, natural fertilisers and fastidious attention in the vineyard, picking only ripe fruit has reaped rewards. Jancis Robinson MW (aka the queen of wine) is a big fan “… some of the finest Australian Pinot Noir I have encountered..” and James Halliday calls them “ the chardonnay and pinot noir superstar of Victoria’s Macedon Ranges”. Jenni took full ownership and operation of the winery in 2017 and the winemaking is now in the capable hands of former Shadowfax winemaker, Mark Harrop.
About the 2020: From the vineyard .. “Compared to the warmer growing seasons of 2018 & 2019, 2020 walked a cooler path. Budburst commenced mid-September to the frosty welcome that can be part and parcel of our cool, continental climate. After a slightly warmer than usual October, November saw the return of much cooler weather for flowering and fruit set. These cooler conditions led to smaller than usual bunches being formed across the vineyard. Fruit set completed in a warmer than average December, that in hindsight stands as one of our warmest and driest on record. /this warmth served as the last hurrah of substantial heat, with the remainder of the season receiving heat best described as gentle warmth. As temperatures decreased, rainfall began to increase with most months receiving above average moisture. With our usual great attention to detail in the vineyard, plus some great end game weather, a compact yet highly qualitive harvest was completed by the end of the first week of April.
From the winery … “Picked in the cool of the morning, Chardonnay from three distinct blocks were whole bunch pressed to tank with cloudy juice transferred to barrel the following day. Indigenous yeasts dictated ferment in various formats ranging from 228,300 and 500 litre barrels. From there barrels were stirred monthly until minimal sulphur was added in late Spring. Varying amounts of MLF were emloyed, totalling in 65% in the final blend along with 27% new oak. After maturing for 12 months our 2020 Chardonnay was then lightly filtered before being put to bottle.”
Straw green gold in colour. White florals merge with fresh pear & white stone fruits as struck match & wheat notes form a complexing contrast. Layers of lemon-lime citrus zest, fennel and fresh cut green apple add charm to the subtly savoury frame of white truffle and baker’s spice.
Intense white peach drives the front palate before being drawn taut via crisp citrus energy that merges with savoury wheatmeal notes and fine chalky structure that culminates with lingering minerality. Drinking beautifully now with easily 8+ years cellaring potential.
95 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front “We’re not quite there but the chardonnay vines at Curly Flat are nearly 30 years old now. Which is pretty significant. 2020 was a super-low yield year so this is in lower supply than usual. It will be released in March. It’s a wine of wonderful intensity. I drank a full two glasses, which is unusual for me and white wine, and I kept being struck by the force of flavour. It’s long and elegant too, controlled, driven by stone fruit but laced with custard apple, cedarwood, pear and chalk. There’s ample juice here but it has a lovely dryness through the finish; almost a textural dryness, hence the chalk reference. This is an excellent release, perfectly balanced, flavoursome and finessed.”
95 points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion “A svelte and charming drink with a core of good fruit, all citrus and white nectarine, bound by a savoury overlay. Flinty sulphides, a smidge of creamy nuttiness and a succulence across the palate as the livewire acidity drives this to a long finish.”
*Our Special Price $68.99 – Very limited – last of this vintage*
