Clyde park Vineyard Bannockburn Chardonnay, Geelong
"...the quality of its wines is consistently exemplary."
– James Halliday
Hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed to French puncheons and hogsheads (25% new), minimal stirring, a small amount of mlf, remained on lees for 9 months with little intervention. There's no question that the depth and richness of the fruit is akin to that of Beechworth, not Yarra Valley, and even less the Mornington Peninsula. It's a wine that marches to the tune of its big bass drum. Made by Robin Brockett.
95 points, Wine Companion (March 2020)
Lemon curd, tropical fruits, faint green herbs and fennel with a touch of sea spray and sandalwood. Nice. Hey? Richness is perceived in palate, honeyed flavours, light though, some wheaty notes, rich lemon and banana and a finish that’s more caramel in a way than fruitiness. Generous, strong wine, lots of flavour. A little full on, perhaps.
91 points, The Wine Front (June 2020)
Victoria’s first commercial wine was produced in Geelong by Swiss immigrants in 1845. During the mid- 1800’s Geelong was the largest grape-growing region in Victoria with 400 hectares under vine. When phylloxera struck in the 1870s however, the vines were decimated and it was not until the late 1960’s that the area’s vineyards were re-established. Located about 80 km southwest of Melbourne, Geelong has a cool maritime climate with low rainfall and prevalent cool blustery winds that affect flowering and Franceuit set. Soils are diverse, mostly volcanic over limestone with some lesser quality black soils. The region is dotted primarily with family owned wineries producing small quantities of high quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz & Cabernet Sauvignon.
