Woah! This one is out of the box. A big whiff and there is a lemon-infused ginger beer thing going on - and I'm hooked. The first release of a Willowlake Chardonnay in the Alkimi range and Stu Dudine has nailed it.
Handled slightly differently to its Primavera sibling, the fruit was whole bunch pressed to second use French oak where it underwent wild yeast fermentation and malolactic fermentation. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Additional scents of custard apple and buttered popcorn build interest and intrigue. The mouth is flooded with juicy white fleshed nectarines, peach iced tea, green apples and a few drops of lemon juice. Don't let the ever so faint cloudy appearance deter you, this is a beauty. Ginger spices purr and reach long on a moreish and satisfying finish. Very, very good Chardonnay.
Drink to five years+
94/100
Region: Yarra Valley
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