Chardonnay ‘22

Haiku:

Citrus Symphony
Honeysuckle Aroma
A Touch of Saffron

Winemakers Notes:

Our 2022 Chardonnay Is our first Chardonnay that is 100% sourced from our own Chardonnay block at Lesley’s Vineyard. Planted in 2019 this new clone (with the boring name of “548”) is anything but. Hand harvested on the 25^th February the grapes were gently whole bunch pressed to only 550L per tonne with the juice left to settle overnight. The following morning the juice was pumped into fine French oak barrels (including 20% new) where it was inoculated with 5 different yeast strains with the intention of creating a more complex wine.

Natural Malo-lactic fermentation took place in the following months and was completed the following Spring. Regular lees stirring and attention in the barrel room with toppings and tastings allowed us to closely track the progression of the wine and we’re excited by what we managed to capture in bottle.

Modern in style this is a lovely expression of Bridge Pa Triangle Chardonnay. Grapefruit, peach and lemon zest ignite the senses both on the nose and palate. Intense and concentrated but retaining a drinkability that has become a hallmark of all Zaria Wines. This wine is lovely now but will cellar gracefully for many years to come. The trouble with our Chardonnay it seems to taste the best right when we’re about to run out! Get in before you miss out.

Vineyard: Lesley’s Vineyard
Sub region: Bridge Pa Triangle
Variety/Clone: Chardonnay 548

Reviews

★★★★★ 94/100

“Gorgeously styled and expressed, the enticing bouquet shows golden peach, lemon zest, vanillin oak and oatmeal nuances, leading to a concentrated palate offering terrific weight and persistency. Wonderfully framed by creamy texture and bright acidity, making it delicious and fabulously drinkable. At its best: now to 2029.” – Sam Kim Wine Orbit

92/100

Aromas and flavours of fresh white peach and nectarine, a layer of citrus led by grapefruit then a lees spice, nut and soft butterscotch quality. A youthful wine with plenty of acidity and bite, a satin-cream texture, fine tannins and raw mouthfeel on the finish.  Well made with a near full-bodied style, a touch of butter and cream. Well made with best drinking from 2024 through 2029. – Cameron Douglas

★★★★✰

Well worth cellaring, the elegant, youthful 2022 vintage (4.5*) is a single-vineyard wine, estate-grown in the Bridge Pa Triangle. Hand-harvested, it was fermented and matured for 11 months in French oak barrels (20 per cent new). Full-bodied, it has good intensity of vibrant, grapefruit and peach flavours, biscuity and mealy notes adding complexity, fresh acidity and a dry, tightly structured finish. Best drinking mid-2025+. – Michael Cooper