[SOLD-OUT] Salo Chardonnay 2017

Wine Front 96 Points!

 

"The co-project of Steve Flamsteed and Dave Mackintosh. A little extra flex in this wine, some distinct personality, despite the hands-off winemaking. Let to do its thing on lees, bottled from the big, older barrels the wine settles into over its pre-bottling life. The red clay soil site at higher-than-usual-Yarra altitude is likely also playing a part in the distinct gras and funk, mineral charm and piercing acidity going on in this wine. Killer.

 

Bold, savoury style of chardonnay, loads going on, wilder-edged, chalky pucker, spiked with dried apple, saltiness, flint and smoke. Has big volume of perfume too, more of the ripe and dried apple plus that delicious, savoury nuttiness. Superb wine here. Rolls with so much personality, charismatic, texture, energy. Otherworldly. Love it hard. Watch it fly."

 

- Wine Bennie, Wine Front

 

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"Our fruit was grown by Simon Harte at the high altitude, Full Moon Vineyard in Gladysdale, Yarra Valley. Simon farms the red basalt clay soils with the utmost care, tending his Chardonnay vines like a garden, and getting amazing results for us over the last 5 years. 

 

We’re pretty excited about 2017, not only because it is our tenth vintage, but because it has to be one of the best we’ve seen…the growing season was moderate and these moderate years produce the great Yarra wines. Everything progressed at a fairly relaxed pace meaning we could wait patiently until ripeness and flavour was just right before picking. It was just a beautiful year to grow grapes and make wine. The yields were very good and the fruit was in pristine condition at harvest. The flavours were a lovely version of citrus and white stonefruit, with an amazingly balanced crisp acidity. 

 

A mix of 96 and 76 Clones on own roots at about a 50/50 blend. Fruit was sorted in the vineyard, then whole bunch pressed straight to 500 Litre French puncheons with wild yeast fermentation. The Large oak vessels we use are all second, third use, so they have been seasoned to take off the hard edges. No stirring, no malolactic fermentation. After 10 months of natural settling, the wine was decanted off yeast lees to tank for a short chill in December.

 

No fining or filtration at all, so you may see a very fine sediment after a few years."

 

- Salo

Country:

Australia

Region:

VIC- Yarra Valley

Variety:

Wine White - Chardonnay

Size:

750mL