Bondar Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2023

Bondar Adelaide Hills Chardonnay is a taut, high-altitude Chardonnay raised partly in a new Stockinger foudre.

Fermentation here is not cooled. The ferment is allowed to run warm to build mouthfeel and nutty complexity, which is the opposite of what most Australian Chardonnay producers do. The fruit comes off the steep, east-facing slope at Rathmine in Echunga, planted to Bernard 76 clone at 450 metres on shallow stony clay loam over limestone. Picking is by hand in the cool of the morning, the bunches are pressed whole, and the wine goes to older French oak with one new Stockinger foudre taking about a quarter of the blend. Full malolactic conversion, no lees stirring. The 2023 harvest was cool and late.

Coiled and bracing, possibly the most tightly wound release to date, with lemon, oyster shell and fine savoury texture holding the energy in check. Serve at 12 degrees. Oysters, sashimi, or a whole roasted fish.

*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.