Oakridge 864 Henk Aqueduct Chardonnay 2022

Refined modern Australian chardonnay destined for the long haul.

Glowing green, vibrant and fresh looking. Complex from the outset – struck match, white nectarine, fennel seed, white flowers, lime skin and dried pear. The impression is of it being crystalline and almost floral. The flavours carry over on to the palate with background flecks of mineral, the subtlest notes of toast and vanilla bean. This is taught and linear but with a glassy texture which carries the wine to a long persistent finish. Refined modern Australian chardonnay destined for the long haul.

All grapes hand harvested and sorted prior to whole bunch pressing directly to French oak puncheons for natural fermentation. 20% of the barrels were new. Post-fermentation, the wine was matured on its fermentation lees for 10 months in barrel followed by a further 6 months on lees in tank prior to bottling after a single filtration. 13.9% ABV.

A long, late and cool growing season with very low crops delivering wines with exceptional freshness, flavour and balance. Flowering occurred in late October, fruit set in December and harvest on March 11th at 12.9 Baum.

Henk Vineyard, Aqueduct Block. North facing at 260m above sea level. Planted in the red volcanic soils of Woori Yallock in 2008 using the Dijon clone 95 and cropped at 4.3 t/Ha.