$54.00
– Sold Out| /
Region: Adelaide Hills, SA
Grape: Chardonnay
First Glance: Medium-weight, moderately oaked, balanced
Michael hall was originally in the business of valuating jewellery, working in his native London and in Switzerland. Wine had always been a passion, and at 40, Michael uprooted his life and career, and moved to Australia to pursue winemaking. A wine science degree later, and following a number of years working for iconic top producers both here and abroad in Burgundy and the Rhone valley, Michael now focuses entirely on his eponymous label.
This Chardonnay is sourced from a cool vineyard site in the Adelaide Hills, which benefits from descending cool air from Mt Lofty. This moderating influence, coupled with the altitude, makes for a long and gentle growing season, where the fruit develops full phenolic maturity, whilst keeping its bright acidity intact. Hand-picked fruit is destemmed and pressed, then wild yeast barrel-fermented. 20% of the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation. Matured for 11 months on yeast lees in 29% new French oak.
The Best Cellars View:
A medium-weight Chardonnay with excellent interplay between pithy and taut citrus on the one hand, and riper, rounder nectarine and hints of peach on the other. A bit of spicy oak complements and completes the picture. A mineral edge and a bit of chalky texture on the palate, coupled with bright and crunchy acids, keeps this well inside the bracket of elegant South Australian Chardonnay.
