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2016 Vinelea Chardonnay

Beechworth, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
$37. 99
Bottle
$455.88 Dozen
Cellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2018-2021)
ABV: 13.5%
Closure: Diam Cork

The likes of iconic producer Giaconda and to a lesser extent Sorrenberg have long been building Beechworths reputation as a world class producer of Chardonnay. Today Giaconda stands alongside Leeuwin Estate as one of the country’s top Chardonnay makers. Relative newcomer Vinelea with winemaker and owner Stuart Smith at the helm, has travelled back in time to produce a brilliant old traditional style of Chardonnay that’s big on flavour and texture - a complete contrast in style to the elegant, lighter styles driven by freshness that are being made by the vast majority of Australian winemakers today. In order to impart additional textural richness the wine was lees stirred and underwent 100% malolactic fermentation. Barrels were racked at the end of the first year, the wine then returned to barrel for an additional 6 months for aging. The wine is fined but not filtered before bottling.

This rich, viscous and boldly flavoured old fashioned style of Chardonnay will leave hedonists drooling.

Bright yellow straw colour with a pale straw hue. Showing excellent intensity, the rich intoxicating nose exhibits aromatics of ripe peaches and honeycomb overlaid by butterscotch. Notes of bacon fat, nougat and spice ensue. Big, rich and buttery with a very viscous creamy textural feel, this is very much an old school style of Chardonnay, done very well. Mouthfilling flavours of ripe peaches, cream brulee, honeycomb and butterscotch flood the palate over a backdrop of toasty oak, some cashew and spicy nougat. Finishes with sufficient acidity to keep everything in balance. Excellent length and concentration with a long conclusion of ripe peaches, butterscotch, cream brulee, honeycomb, toasty oak, cashew, nougat and spice. For those who love big, rich, textured Chardonnay’s this wine will be like finding an old long lost friend.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13.5%