Close planted Chardonnay – 1.5 metre row spacing – came in pretty handy during the 2025 vintage which was South Australia’s warmest, driest and earliest vintage on record. The winemaker believes close spacing provides “earlier-ripening, fuller flavoured Chardonnay,” something that translated into a firm, tight, tense package of wine in ’25 delivering a sunny, bright intensity of flavour. It seems to be in building mode at this early stage, still forming, but already you can see the emergence of a rounder, more textural and open flavoured Chardonnay than the ’24 at the same early level. Quince, citrus scents and flavours abound against a background of stone fruit, hazelnut and honeysuckle aromatics. Very much a focused Chardonnay, nicely spiced and lemony crisp throughout, finishing on a lemon tart zesty note. It’s quite a sustained tangy close to a Chardonnay of class. It’s going to need a little more time if you can give it, and don’t over chill to serve.
