Escarpment Chardonnay 2021

Toasty notes are married with lime, peach, ginger snaps and salted focaccia. Nicely textured with vibrant acidity. Very fresh. Medium-bodied, sleek and elegant. Drink now. Screw cap.

The 2021 Chardonnay is rambunctious and concentrated, with curry leaf and brine, salted yellow peach and flinty reduction showing as hints of graphite/struck match on the nose. The 2021 season experienced poor flowering. Winemaker Tim Bourne says it was "drizzly, rainy and cold," so the fruit didn't set so well. There were small bunches with small berries and not a lot of yield, but it was great quality. After direct pressing, it went into puncheons for wild ferment, then left on lees, with a "fair bit of malic acid retained in 2021—two grams," says Tim. It saw 20% new oak and matured for 11 months prior to bottling. This is an obvious wine with loads of intense flavor and lovely acidity. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.