Howard Park take fruit from most of the WA wine regions, this one coming from Howard Park’s Mount Barrow vineyard in Mt Barker in Western Australia’s Great Southern region. Wild ferment in tank and old oak for freshness and vitality. 9 months maturation on lees for complexity. Note, bottle image is of 2019, but nought else has changed.

Howard Park, Flint Rock, Chardonnay, Great Southern, 2022

Very pale straw/lemon in colour. Flint by name and flinty by nature. Quiet, restrained apple blossom, lime and grapefruit citrus notes with white stone fruit flesh. A little creamy nuance from the barrel work with light water cracker biscuit snap and savoury meal under the fruit. Tight and focused palate. Winemaking intentions achieved. Some may bemoan the lack of flesh (don’t fret, there’s body), but surely must respect the subtlety and structure. Fine value for those that like their Chardonnay a little racier.

RRP: $30
Alc: 12.5%
Rating: 18/20 (92/100)

Wine sample courtesy of Howard Park