Description
Shadowfax located 30 minutes from Melbourne was established in 1998. Winemaker Alister Timms has a strong focus on regionality with the majority of fruit sourced and hand-harvested from their vineyards in the Macedon Ranges and Werribee as well as small growers in Geelong. Each and every vineyard has its own distinct characteristics and produces grapes of only the highest quality. They have taken tremendous strides in recent times, with the team refining the range and proving their prowess with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Their single-vineyard Chardonnays have taken out Best Chardonnay at the Macedon Ranges Wine Exhibition no fewer than five times. Especially noteworthy have been the Little Hampton Vineyard in Macedon’s high-altitude plantings of Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Macedon is the chilliest region of Australia’s mainland, perfectly suited to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and its location south of the Great Dividing Range produces excellent acid retention in grapes. These are the vibrant future of Australia’s cool-climate wine scene.
About this vintage from the winemaker “A cool spring in the Macedon Ranges set medium size crops. A cool summer and mild autumn led to a long growing season. The 740 meters above sea level elevation site of Little Hampton has extra cool nights, helping to retain natural acidity in the grapes, being picked in the last few weeks of April. Grapes ripened late in the season with full flavour and phenolic ripeness. Fruit was hand picked in small batches in pristine condition.
“Hand harvested fruit was firmly whole bunch pressed to impart some skin contact to release the full flavour profile and impart some phenolic texture. Natural ferment occurred in new (22%) and older French barrels. The wine was left to unwind and age slowly on its ferment lees to add generosity. Every barrel was treated as is own entity, with some allowed to go through natural Malolactic fermentation to add further depth. After 11 months the wine was racked and filtered prior to bottling in March 2024.
“Light straw, green hue and brilliant clarity. This distinctive Macedon ranges chardonnay bursts from the glass with lime, peach fuzz and white florals. Hints of lees derived nougat, fresh brioche and mineral notes are complexed with toasty oak notes. The perfume is persistent and intriguing, belying the complex and powerful wine beneath.
“Grapefruit and tangerine fruits spill immediately onto the palate. The fruit flavours are augmented with wild ferment characters such as brioche and barrel warmth. The palate is very full and luscious, with a line of acid pulling the wine in, whilst adding length. The wine is textured with almond meal like characters added another element. A great example of cold climate Macedon Ranges Chardonnay.”
93 points, Stuart Knox, The Real Review “Medium straw-yellow tone. Fresh pineapple and honey roast cashews on the nose. Palate sits tighter with a leaning towards green apple and citrus fruits, layered over roasted nuts and nougat characters. Acidity remains bright, ensuring precision and driving the fruit intensity right to a very long finish.”
RRP $45 Our Special Price only $36.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
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