2023 Sailor Seeks Horse Small Wonder Chardonnay

WINEMAKER: Paul & Gilli Lipscombe
REGION: Tamar Valley, TAS
VARIETY: Chardonay
VITICULTURE: Certified Organic

‘A wet spring meant poor flowering across Tasmania, reducing yields significantly yet the rest of the season was relatively peaceful if cooler than normal. Despite the lower yields the cooler season ensured picking was about 'normal' in the old money so resulted in wines that were both restrained and elegant but intense. An excellent vintage if truth be told. A classical Tasmanian Chardonnay – all citrus, stone fruit, pith, weight and length.’ Gilli Lipscombe.

So, in our pursuit to produce the country’s best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, we headed to Tasmania and after scouring the state, we decided on the Huon Valley. Neither too dry nor too wet, too warm nor too cold and with two of the most awarded vineyards in Tasmania (Elsewhere and Home Hill), the industry had barely scratched the surface of the myriad of microclimates within the valley. Within a few weeks of arriving, we stumbled upon a dilapidated 6.5ha vineyard, planted in 2005 and then walked away from. Opportunity beckoned. NE-facing slope, sheltered from the prevailing cold south-westerly and planted to six different clones of Pinot; perfect. Half the vines were dead, blackberry above our heads and about one hundred trees littered the vineyard; not-so-perfect. But it wouldn’t be satisfying if it wasn’t challenging. That was one of the reasons we decided to change our lives. If you love what you do and have a plan, then it doesn’t matter what the challenges are, they are surmountable and all-the-more rewarding.