2021 Les & Sez Rebelle

WINEMAKER: Tim Stock & Sarah Feehan
VARIETAL: Chardonnay
REGION: Adelaide Hills/Barossa Valley, SA
VITICULTURE: Organic/Biodynamic

‘Rebelle’ is as she says. An experiment with whole bunch carbonic Chardonnay in a single puncheon with the head knocked out. With love and hope she made her own journey to the dark heart of skin fermented Chardonnay. Cloudy, golden and orange; she is a genuine surprise. Savoury, funky nose reminds us of aperitivo as the sun sets over Siena. The varietal totally blown out of focus thanks to carbonic maceration with full skins and stems. Earthy reduction – flint, red clay and potting mix; dried citrus florals and apricot nectar – fruit x skins; and dried straw and herbs from the stems. Out of the glass and in the mouth it opens with a rich easy texture before the salty sappy clementine and apricot fruits appear, followed by savoury acid vein and delicate citrus pith tannins with a hint of old barrel charm.

Late nights, sticky ferments and copious bottles are responsible for this love story. Les (Tim Stock from Les Fruits) and Sez (Sarah Feehan from Parley) took time out from their own projects to make three little barrels of wine. Hand picked, hand de-stemmed, basket pressed and barrel fermented, the wine was an experiment in doing as little as possible to create a wild and unadulterated expression of fruit.