2022 Faraday Chardonnay

A new site and a new wine… And continuing the exploration of vineyards across the Harcourt granite.
This is Chardonnay grown on an eastern facing slope of weathered granitic sands in the foothills of Leanganook (Mt Alexander); a vineyard planted nearly 40 years ago and farmed in recent times by Chris and Elissa Fazio. The fruit was handpicked and whole bunch pressed to tank for cold settling before moving to seasoned puncheons for ferment utilising only native vineyard yeasts. Primary ferment progressed slowly and calmly over 4 weeks before the barrels were topped for winter, with occasional lees stirring to build texture. The wine was racked post malolactic ferment in early summer, with a small sulphur addition and bottled under Diamanté's 5 corks.