2017 Felton Road Block 6 Chardonnay

Some bold, ripe and fleshy fruit on offer here. This has a very attractive, fresh and fleshy feel with plenty of succulent, juicy and rich, peach, pear and melon flavor. Plush and vibrant. Drink now. Screw cap.

Bannockburn subregion. 100% Mendoza clone, selected from the 45% that makes up Block 6. Single block of 24-year-old vines on thin loess over schist gravel with pedogenic lime , on a steep north-facing slope, from 280–300 m elevation. Biodynamic. Whole-bunch pressed. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts and MLF with indigenous bacteria. 17 months in older French oak, with only the last six months with SO2, post-blending. No fining or filtration. TA 6.8 g/l, pH 3.14. Mid lemon gold. Struck-match tone, then aromatic, ripe lemon and melon fruit intensity emerges. Nutty, spicy oak overtones. Bright, crisp acidity with freshness of citrus and passionfruit. Really bright and lively. Long, clean finish with finesse. (TJ)

The 2017 Block 6 Chardonnay has a vibrant bouquet, maybe a little richer than the 2016, with scents of dried honey, orange zest and yellow flowers. The palate is packed full of flavour, including satsuma and hints of pineapple, and not quite as edgy as the previous vintage towards the finish, but displaying impressive amplitude and persistence. It will be difficult to resist in its youth, but my feeling is that the 2016 might get better in bottle.