2023 Dappled Single Vineyard Les Vergers Chardonnay

WINEMAKER: Shaun Crinion
REGION: Yarra Valley, VIC
VARIETY: Chardonnay
VITICULTURE: Sustainable

“These wines are all hailing from the cool and later ripening 23’ vintage, and they show the positive effects of this long cool ripening season. In this release, we have 3 reds and one Chardonnay, and due to tiny yields again there is no SV Yarra Pinot Noir (which all went into the last Appellation release). Stylistically the reds are fragrant and pure with fine acidity, and the Chardonnay is simply stunning - similar to the 2019 vintage.” - Shaun Crinion

Sourced from John and Josie D’Aloisio’s vineyard located high up on the hill above the township of Seville. The I10V1 clone Chardonnay was planted in 1991 on its own roots (non-grafted) and is grown on the stunningly rich red volcanic soils this subregion of the Yarra Valley is famous for. This vineyard is just getting better and better with age and does a remarkable job of producing amazing wines year in year out.

Bottled in early July this has only had a few months to sit and take shape but it's already looking to be one of the better wines that’s been made from this vineyard - showing all the hallmarks of richness and poise. Think white peach, apple blossom, puffs of smoke with grilled almonds. The palate has drive and concentration with green apple, lemon grapefruit and more peach flavours. If you have ever been a fan of this wine before it’s a must have. Cellar potential of 10+ years

The fruit is hand-picked and cooled overnight. Whole bunches are lightly crushed by foot before a long pressing when the un-sulphured juice is transferred straight to oak. The oak is a combination of old (75%) and new (25%) French barriques and puncheons. Ferments are allowed to start naturally (wild) and complete with no temperature control. The wine is not battonaged and left on lees for 10 months in oak and a further 5 months on lees in stainless steel. Some MLF may have occurred but not encouraged and SO2 is added when the wine is ready for it. The wine is lightly filtered before being bottled un-fined by hand via gravity.

Despite their fame, Shaun’s releases still remain tiny due a lack of suitable fruit. Obviously, it goes without saying that he is fastidious about the fruit he sources, as evidenced by the quality of these wines year after year. The other thing that remains important to Shaun is that his wines remain accessible. Despite the increasing costs of fruit and production and regardless of the effort, and rarity, the wines are priced to offer some of the best value for money in Australian wine today.