A. Rodda Willow Lake Vineyard Chardonnay 2018

Description

Adrian Rodda has been involved in making wine since 1998, spending more than decade at Oakridge Wines in the Yarra Valley. In 2010, Adrian moved to Beechworth in the North East of Victoria to produce a Chardonnay from the Smiths Vineyard, the oldest vineyard in modern Beechworth viticulture. In 2012, Adrian commenced the “Chardonnay Project” whereby he sources grapes from the Willow Lake Vineyard in the Yarra Valley and vinifies them in parallel with the Smiths Vineyard Chardonnay. In 2017, a third single vineyard Chardonnay was produced from the Baxendale Vineyard at Whitlands in the cool upper reaches of North East Victoria.

Since 2011, the range has also included a Bordeaux Blend, based around Cabernet Sauvignon also sourced from the Smiths Vineyard, and a Tempranillo from the Aquila Audax Vineyard, Adrian’s first foray with a Mediterranean variety.

Fruit hails from the highest and most highly sought after original vineyard in Upper Yarra at an elevation of 270 metres above sea level.  A section of Willow Lake Vineyard’s Parkinsons Road Block was planted in 1979 in brown gradational soils over clay  Unlike the majority of the Willow Lake Vineyard, the Parkinsons Road Block has a southerly aspect, with a consistent gradient across the entire block. Grapes were hand picked and pressed to 500 litre French oak puncheons (34% first use) without clarification or racking for non-temperature controlled fermentation. Malolactic fermentation was not encouraged so as to preserve freshness and natural acidity. The wine was rested on it lees for 10 months prior to bottling.

Intense, highly lifted aromas of grapefruit and white flowers combine with white stone fruit and gun smoke. The palate has a creamy flow supported by a saline, chalky texture encapsulated by mouth-watering natural acidity.

96 points, Jane Faulkner for 2020 Hallidays Wine Companion  “A cracking chardonnay that’s pure class. Tight and linear with intense flavours of citrus and white stone fruit, ginger flower and moreish sulphides. Complex, deep with a very long finish. Wow.”

95 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review “The bouquet is spicy and meaty, smoked charcuterie-like, with definite but not overdone sulfide notes, the palate refined and intense, crisp and lively, with a rich, concentrated middle and lasting finish. The acidity is vibrant but not strident. A very smart chardonnay. It’s certainly more accessible than the 2019 vintage of the same wine.”

RRP $47  OUR PRICE $39.99 – Last of this vintage.

(For latest 2019 vintage – Click here)