The Garagiste Tuerong Chardonnay is drawn from the 6-acre Robinson vineyard where the 20-year-old Chardonnay vines are rooted in the black sand over brown sandy loam of the Tuerong flatlands.
This site was picked a full week and a bit before the Merricks vineyard, which gives you some idea of the pivotal imprint that the Mornington’s topography and soils stamps on its vineyards. The warmer and more stable microclimate here cuts a wine with a slightly fuller figure than the snappier Merricks’ wine, though the cool vintage nights and only partial malo give the wine the crispness of freshly pressed linen. Barrel fermented in 500-litre puncheons (20%) new, the wine is matured on lees for 10 months before bottling.
Aromas of spiced apple, grapefruit and flint lead to a palate packed with citrus and stone fruit subtly supported by cinnamon and clove spiced oak. Detailed acidity drives the wine with great length and breadth. Garagiste has forged a reputation for Chardonnays that are beautifully poised, detailed and thirst quenching. The 2014 Tuerong Chardonnay does that reputation no harm at all.
“Usual vinification, picked 27 Feb. A slightly softer make-up than that of Merricks, but all things are relative; there is still great drive and complexity here, and a touch of fig.” 96 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2017 edition
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