Description
The Lightfoot family first planted a small vineyard in 1995 in the pristine Gippsland Lakes region. Located 4 hours drive east of Melbourne outside a town called Bairnsdale, it’s literally the last stop before you hit the beautiful Croajingolong National Park and then on to the border with NSW. They started making small batches of wine each vintage for the enjoyment of family, friends and a handful of local wine enthusiasts. Since then their family business has grown, and the second generation of family, sons Rob and Tom Lightfoot, now manage the business.
The vineyard site, situated between the foothills of the Great Dividing Range and Bass Strait, was selected when soil mapping of the region identified tracts of the much celebrated Terra Rosa over Limestone soil structure ( similar to the Coonawarra). The 29Ha vineyard was planted between 1995-1997 by the Lightfoot family on their farm ‘Myrtle Point’. Pinot Noir plantings make up almost half, with smaller blocks of Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet.
Good annual rainfall of around 700mm and a regular coastal breeze throughout the growing season provides good airflow within the canopy and assists in the natural management of healthy vines. Shoot thinning and crop thinning when required, along with and limited use of irrigation helps maintain low cropping levels of less than 2 tonnes per acre. The maritime influence in the vineyard has a moderating effect on the cool climate and enables our fruit to develop flavours that have great varietal character and depth of flavour.
The vineyard named Myrtle Point is the heart of their estate. It’s a finger like plateau laced with Clay red Terra Rossa top soil with a beautiful seam of limestone running through the whole vineyard, the obvious secret to their success with their two core varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This producer is on the rise with coveted 5 star outstanding rating from Halliday Wine Companion.
Wild ferment cool climate Chardonnay from estate grown at Myrtle Point. Fermented in 100% French oak with a small percentage of new oak. Touch of lees stirring and malo in part adds texture but it’s the purity of fragrance with notes of melon and peach along with an almost cashew note on the palate that’s very attractive.
New 2021 Release is here .. this is fine cool climate chardonnay with fabulous depth of fruit balanced by long mouthwatering line of acid and more-ish french oak. Delicious and what a bargain!
About the vintage from the winemakers: It was as if the wine gods decided to look after us in 2021 after having made life so difficult for 2020 vintage. The three-year drought broke with some solid rain though winter. It was a surprisingly cool year given the heat of the previous summer, but it allowed us to manage an average sized crop closely and focus our attention on building maximum quality. Sporadic and useful rains meant little need for irrigation, and the compost we added under the vines kept the soil moisture in and some seaweed and fish emulsions had the vines humming! The usual mix of Cane and Spur pruning was employed, as well as springtime shoot thinning. Close canopy management, sustainable and organics based vine nutrition and disease prevention program all combined to make a happy and healthy crop of grapes, possibly our best ever!
95 points, Jane Faulkner for James Halliday Wine Companion “Such an enjoyable, easy-to-drink wine but with plenty of definition and complexity. Lemony freshness infuses white nectarine and a touch of cedary spice from the oak – 10 months in a mix of barrel sizes (15% new) and perfectly integrated. It feels light and breezy across the palate, then some creamy lees kicks in to bolster it out and lively acidity ensuring the finish lingers.”
RRP $38 **Our Special Price $29.99 when you buy 6 bottles or more of this wine**
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