Fresh from success at the 2019 Orange Wine Show where this received the Trophy for Best Young Chardonnay and then progressed to Best White Wine in show.

From a single vineyard on the high slopes of Mount Canobolas, the wine was barrel fermented in “new and one year old 500 litre puncheons and 300 litre hogsheads.” 10 months in oak with monthly lees stirring. Malolactic fermentation prevented to maintain freshness.

Gartelmann, Sarah Elizabeth, Chardonnay, Orange, 2018

Light gold hue with bright edges. A vast array of aromas: vanilla, creamy stone fruits, sawdust, oak spice, walnut and beeswax. Beautifully poised: the interplay between the wine making artifice (grip and robustness) and the natural qualities of the fruit (juicy acidity and drive) is impeccable. Flavours drift through those aforementioned elements of rich stone fruit and lemon drops, yet it is the tension and the presence of the wine that underlines its excellence.

RRP: $30
Alc: 13.7%
Rating: 19.25/20

Wine sample courtesy of Gartelmann and Define Wine