Spinifex Chardonnay 2021

Spinifex Chardonnay is an Adelaide Hills Chardonnay from a north-east facing block at Norton Summit.

Chardonnay is not the first grape anyone associates with Pete Schell, but his first Australian job was at Mountadam in the Eden Valley when that estate was a cool-climate benchmark and Chardonnay was its best wine, so the return makes sense. Earlier releases came off the now-lost Bowe Lees Loveys vineyard at Woodside; the 2021 is the first from the Morialta vineyard on the western edge of the Adelaide Hills, where twenty-year-old vines run north to south and everything from pruning to picking is done by hand. Fruit was chilled overnight, destemmed, macerated four hours, then pressed to barrel, around 70 per cent new.

Classy and finely drawn, with fleshy white peach and nectarine against zesty citrus and well-judged oak. Serve at 12 degrees, not colder. Roast chicken, seared scallops, or a leek and Gruyere tart all work beautifully.

*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.