Garagiste Le Stagiaire Chardonnay 2024

Garagiste Le Stagiaire Chardonnay is a Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay led by Balnarring fruit.

Balnarring makes up sixty-five per cent of this blend, with Merricks North at nineteen and Tuerong at sixteen. Merricks North is the newest of the sites in the stable: planted in 1996, it sits in brown loamy soils much like those at the flagship Merricks Grove vineyard nearby, and it has quickly earned its place. Everything was sorted twice, whole-bunch pressed to 500-litre puncheons, then wild fermented with no temperature control and left seven months on lees to build texture. Two barrels went through malolactic, and new oak sits at ten per cent.

Youthful and vigorous, full of citrus, white flowers and stone fruit, with a saline thread running through a fleshy mid-palate. Serve at 11 to 12 degrees, and give it air, because it improves over an hour. Good with roast chicken, crab, or a leek and cheese tart.

*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.