2024 Sorrenberg Chardonnay

Sorrenberg is a 3-hectare vineyard in Beechworth, owned by Barry and Jan Morey. Surrounded by forest and bordered by Stony Creek, the site’s cool climate, granitic soil, and northern aspect provide ideal conditions for viticulture, ensuring full ripeness even for late-ripening varieties. Established in 1985, the vineyard focuses on Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Gamay, with smaller amounts of other varieties for their blends. The wines are crafted on-site using traditional methods, including fermentation in French barriques, with close attention to quality. Certified biodynamic since 2008, Sorrenberg emphasizes sustainable farming and low production to maintain exceptional standards.

This Chardonnay is fermented entirely in French oak barrels, with around 25–30% new oak. Natural yeasts are used throughout, and the wine completes full malolactic fermentation. It spends ten months on lees with weekly stirring, followed by a further eight months of barrel maturation. The extended time in barrel means the wine can be slow to show in its youth, so a little patience is rewarded. Minimal handling and filtration are employed to retain clarity of flavour and texture.

Other Reviews....
Natural yeast ferment, 100% barrel fermented in French oak (25–30% new), mlf, extended lees contact for 10 months, eight months' barrel maturation. In many respects, a wine at the start of its journey. A rich fruit presence in peach, nectarine, pear and citrus is layered in some sophisticated winemaking complexity, bringing together spicy oak, warm bready/mealy notes, vanilla slice and toasted almond. Offers a slow build up in flavour intensity led by toasty oak and enlivened in zesty, fresh acidity. A long trail of toasted almond weaves through to the finish. Complexity-plus. Drink 2025-2034.
96 points
Jeni Port - James Halliday's Wine Companion

There was a cool and wet growing period, then warmth rolled through, and as disease pressure increased, fruit was picked to navigate that. Of course natural, barrel ferment, malo comes through, the wine rested on lees, then matured in barrel further.
There’s something special happening here. It’s the easy start, then the build of texture, then the compact finish. Quite unlike many chardonnay wines, it doesn’t flow in a regal sense. There’s also quite a bit of nougat, vanilla wafer, light toffee elements, a thick wash of salted cashew and then you start to work out that Golden Delicious apple juice, green pineapple, peachy swishes, watermelon rind, ginger, toasty cinnamon and little dashes of white pepper sit in the mix. It’s a flavoursome chardonnay, but also feels effortless and fine, even with its more generous persona. A wine to sit back and relax with, and enjoy all the elements unfurling. Eighteen months to two years is the zone, me thinks, but will go a little further. Drink 2025 - 2031.
96+ points
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front