Xavier Goodridge gives his name to his eponymous label. Chardonnay fruit coming from the mature (1987) Avon Vineyard in Maffra, Gippsland.  Whole bunches pressed to, and settled in tank before being transferred to barrel for fermentation. On full lees for 10 months, with barrels stirred once or twice prior to the completion of malolactic fermentation. French oak maturation, (30% new). Bottled under DIAM (wax dipped).

Xavier Wine, Avon, Chardonnay, Gippsland, 2024

Soft golden. Classy grapefruit skin, toasty oak, briny roast chicken, just unwrapped nougat, apple and cinnamon, peanut oil, grilled lime, a touch of aldehydic sherry/nuttiness, wheat germ and warm ghee. Savoury profile with a mineral spine and plenty of brown spice with more flesh than initially obvious. Holds a good weight through the mid palate before a tight and quite intense finish with briny nutty oxidative tangs (if that’s your style).

RRP: $72
Alc: 13.5%
Rating: 91/100

Wine sample courtesy of Xavier Wine and Common State