2023 Lowestoft Estate Chardonnay

Lowestoft is one of Tasmania’s most exciting producers, home to some of the region’s oldest vines, planted in 1986 just outside Hobart. Since Kiwi-born Liam McElhinney took the reins in 2020, the estate’s reputation has soared—most notably with La Maison Pinot Noir, which took out the prestigious Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy in 2023. With mature vines, precision winemaking and growing acclaim, Lowestoft is fast becoming a producer to watch in Tasmanian wine.
Sourced from 78% Tasman Peninsula and 22% East Coast fruit, the 2023 Chardonnay was hand-picked, chilled, and whole-bunch pressed to seasoned 300L French oak. Wild fermented with solids, the wine was handled in two parts—half sulphured post-ferment, half stirred on lees without SO₂ for three months—before 9 months’ maturation and blending. Taut and mealy expect notes of ripe nectarine, grapefruit zest, cashew and flint, this is a Chardonnay of tension, texture, and precision.
Alc. 13%

Other Reviews....
Coal River Valley chardonnay, whole-bunch pressed into seasoned French oak (300L) for wild ferment before maturing for nine months in oak prior to blending and bottling. Pale straw, with vibrant aromas of grapefruit, white peach and nectarine cut with hints of struck-match complexity, spiced oatmeal, almond paste and riverstone. There's a lot going on here. It's like an orchestra; you can hear it as a whole but are able to delineate and pick out individual instruments, politely golf (orchestra?) clapping as you go, marvelling at the tautly stretched fruit canvas, umami-rich acid line and overall composition and drive. A cracker. Drink 2024-2034.
96 Points
Dave Brookes - Halliday's Australian Wine Companion