2024 Wyjup Collection Chardonnay

Appearance: Brilliant lemon-gold.

Aroma: Aromas of white peach, grilled nuts, and almond meal.

Palate: On the palate, grapefruit zest and lemon curd interplay with cashew, subtle toast, and saline minerality.

Fruit was picked early at 11.8 Baume and whole bunch pressed to barrel with high solids, initiating spontaneous wild ferment. Wild ferment proceeded to ~6 Baume before selected CY3079 yeast was introduced to finish primary fermentation. The later pick (12.8 Baume) was also barrel fermented with high solids with sequential pressing of whole bunches to barrels. Both batches matured in 100% French Oak (60% new) from Darhuad & Jaegle and Fleur de Quintessence for 10 months with intermittent battonage. Malolactic fermentation not encouraged with approximately 30% proceeding naturally.

- Mike Garland, Chief Winemaker

Vintage 2024 occurred four weeks earlier than usual, brought on by warmer than average temperatures in late September and October that accelerated budburst, early season growth to flowering, and condensed the growing season. Warm and dry daytime conditions during February and March then ensured rapid sugar and flavour accumulation in the lead up to the harvest. There were some early season viticultural challenges, with isolated occurrences of frost in late October that resulted in some crop loss. There were also some late season challenges with some heat spikes above 40°C in late January and early February that caused sun damage in some blocks of Riesling and Chardonnay. Yield was down about 20-30% in affected blocks. Overall, red varieties (most notably Shiraz & Cabernet) will perform very strongly and for whites, early picking ensured a balanced, natural acidity producing high quality wines.

Vintage: 2024

Varietal(s): Chardonnay

Vineyard: Wyjup Vineyard.

Technical Analysis: Alcohol 14 | pH 3.38 | TA 6.18

Food pairing: Pair with seared Snapper, new baby potatoes and a crisp green salad.

Cellaring potential of 7-10 years.