Garagiste Le Stagiaire Chardonnay 2022

Garagiste Le Stagiaire Chardonnay is a Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay drawn from four sites.

Balnarring, Tuerong, Merricks and Red Hill all contribute to this vintage, which spreads the blend across the cooler and warmer corners of the Peninsula. Malolactic conversion is not something Barney Flanders chases in Chardonnay, he does not test for it, and the winery has no strong population of the bacteria; in 2022 the acidities came in exactly where he wanted them, so there was no case for softening anything. A small amount of malo happened anyway. Fruit was sorted in the vineyard and winery, whole-bunch pressed to 500-litre puncheons, fermented without temperature control and held eight months on gross lees.

Racy and fine, with concentrated citrus and white flowers, a fennel note and a rocky mineral edge. A wave of acidity cuts through the fleshy texture and the finish runs long. Serve cold, 10 to 12 degrees, with oysters, grilled fish or a chicken and leek pie.

*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.