2022 Domenica Chardonnay

WINEMAKER: Peter Graham
REGION: Beechworth, VIC
VARIETAL: Chardonnay
VITICULTURE: Organic

After 13 years working with his Uncle Rick at Giaconda, Pete is a dab hand with Chardonnay and still a bargain at a fraction of the cost of Giaconda. Harvested over seven picking days spanning almost two weeks from March 1st. The Chardonnay is basket pressed and the juice left to settle in a stainless steel tank overnight. The following morning, the juice is transferred to oak, including two new Stockinger demi-muid, a second use Stockinger demi-muid, two Foudre and the balance of wine to older barriques. The oak in these cellars is absolutely first class and it shows in the glass with its beautiful integration and subtlety. Wild ferment takes only two weeks and the wine sees no malolactic fermentation as the fruit weight here is already generous. The wine was fined but unfiltered early in the new year and bottled in February 2023.

This is usually Peter’s best wine and the 2022 release is no exception. White nectarine and peach, white florals and minerality. The palate weight is medium high and very long with exceptional natural acidity. Drink or hold up to a decade.

Domenica is the project of Peter Graham, who previously worked for 13 years with the top winery in Beechworth (hint: it's Giaconda). The 4 hectares vineyard is located six kilometres south west of Beechworth, adjacent to the renowned Warner vineyard, at an altitude of around 460 metres. The soil is granitic, and the exposure is varied, from steep southerly slopes for the chardonnay, to a gentler north easterly aspect for the Roussanne/Marsanne.