Murdoch Hill Rocket Chardonnay 2021

Murdoch Hill Rocket Chardonnay is the estate's flagship Adelaide Hills Chardonnay.

Rocket is assembled from whatever Michael Downer judges his best parcels in a given year, mostly off the higher reaches of the Hills, with the Piccadilly Valley taking the largest share in 2021. One core plot of 35-year-old vines sits at 560 metres; with over a metre of rain annually and the Piccadilly spring beneath, dry-growing is straightforward there. Between them the three sources cover a range of clones, aspects and soils. The bunches were pressed whole, the juice settled under 24 hours and racked cloudy to puncheon and tight-grained French barrique at 60 per cent new for nine months. Around 85 per cent went through malolactic before the parcels were married in tank and bottled in February.

Grapefruit, white peach and grilled nuts, with a flicker of struck match. Rich but taut, the acid running hard through the middle and long past the finish. Serve at 12 degrees with roast turbot, veal or a mushroom and gruyère 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.