Review: 96/100

Campbell Mattinson, Halliday Wine Companion Aug 2024

A rounded, textured, layered chardonnay that has excellent integration of the fruit and winemaking elements. Alluring flecks of Geraldton wax and crème caramel decorate the concentrated core of green apples, ripe lemon and quince. Mineral acidity defines and focuses the palate. The wine has seamless flow and impressive back-palate persistence. The more air it has, the better it gets. A benchmark style for the region.

 96/100

JamesSuckling.com Sep 2024

The powerful and balanced nose gives refined notes of lemon curd, flint, kaffir limes and nectarines. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with energetic acidity, showing fresh pineapple, red apples, grapefruit and sweet baking spices. A true chardonnay-lover’s chardonnay. Excellent. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

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Now all this chat about 2021 and here we are with the 2022 Chardonnay.  2022 is like 2021, but with more concentration. I really think that this Moonambel Chardonnay is a lovely continuation of what I hope is a beautiful evolution of this immaculate site.

Fruit was handpicked and whole bunch pressed. The cloudy juice was then transferred directly to a mixture of new, one and two-year-old French oak puncheons (500L) and barriques (228L). Fermentation occurred spontaneously with wild yeast over the next three weeks. Post-ferment the barrels were topped and the wine matured in place for the next nine months before careful barrel selection and bottling.

The wine has a beautiful light straw colour, highlighted by flashes of green. Oatmeal, peach and honey on the nose; a hint of ever-elusive character of struck match. A beautiful vanilla spice. On the palate it’s intensely focused with a powerful, defined acidity to highlight the mealy-tropical fruit. Subtle Burgundy oak supports the intense savoury and mineral flavours. Enjoy over the next 5 years. – Julian Langworthy, Dalwhinnie