Bondar Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2021

Bondar Adelaide Hills Chardonnay is a whole-bunch pressed, wild-fermented Chardonnay from the Rathmine vineyard at Echunga.

Elevation is the point here. At 450 metres in the Adelaide Hills the nights stay cold enough to hold acid in Chardonnay through a South Australian summer, and the shallow stony clay loam over limestone keeps vigour in check on vines now thirty years old. Fruit is hand-picked early in the morning, pressed as whole bunches and fermented on its own yeasts in French oak, about a quarter of it new. Every barrel went through malolactic conversion in 2021, taken as far as the acid balance allowed, and the lees were left alone to keep the fruit pure.

Lemon curd, white nectarine and a flinty edge, with a taut acid line and a savoury, drying finish. Serve at 11 degrees. Good with oysters, chicken with tarragon, or a bowl of mussels steamed in cider.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.