Tasting Profile
November 2022
Kooyong Estate Chardonnay comprises fruit from our Faultline and Farrago blocks. It offers an overall expression of the Kooyong vineyard, with parcels of fruit from various soils and mesoclimates blended together to create the Estate label. Year after year the same parcels are consistently chosen, giving this wine an underlying likeness across vintages. The grapes were gently whole-bunch pressed directly into French oak barriques (19% of which were new) where fermentation occurred spontaneously with ambient yeasts. Following fermentation the wine was aged on lees (without battonage) for 11 months. It was bottled without fining and with minimal filtration.
Aromatically exciting and complex, the nose displays aromas of stone fruits, lemon butter, citrus peel, and spicy oak-derived notes of anise and ginger. Soft pear juiciness and grain-like characteristics balance a tight citrus core of mandarin and grapefruit flavours. The palate runs long and finishes with bright acid and citrus pithiness. Allowing it time to unfurl, this wine will greatly reward time in the cellar.
13.5% alc
Tasting Profile 2021
Tasting Profile 2020
Tasting Profile 2018
Reviews
Wine Pilot, June 2023
Ken Gargett
The fruit for the Estate Chardonnay is sourced from the Faultline and Farrago vineyards. The team find that the fruit is sourced from the same parcels in the vineyards, vintage after vintage. Whole bunch pressing into French oak barriques, 19% of which were new. Wild yeast fermentation and then ageing on lees for 11 months. Not hard to see why 2021 is considered as such a special vintage in the region when we look at this wine. Lemon/gold hue. Youthful but showing good intensity and early hints of complexity. Peaches and nectarines, spices, stonefruits and a subtle nutty note. There is a supple, appealing texture and very impressive length plus fine acidity with everything impeccably balanced before a lingering finish. This will be even better in 12 months and then drink beautifully for another four to six years.
93 points
Halliday Wine Companion, August 2023
Jane Faulkner
Fruit off the single blocks, Faultline and Farrago, are the foundation of the Estate and with thoughtful winemaking, it’s more than a safe bet – it’s an excellent option. Stone fruit and peach fuzz, lemon and creamy lees, yet a taut palate from the fine acidity. Everything in place and this is delicious now.
95 points
The Vintage
The Vineyard
The Kooyong vineyard is located on the Mornington Peninsula at Tuerong, on Miocene sedimentary soils. Our wines are made from domain grown, handpicked grapes and aim to manifest terroir: the integration of our geology and soils with the macroclimate of our region, the mesoclimates of the various sites within our vineyard and the weather of the annual grape growing season. Our cultural operations in the vineyard and practices in the winery endeavour to articulate these unique characteristics diligently, respectfully and without artifice.