Eck MAS "Futs de Chene" Chardonnay 2024

My 2020 "Charlotte" Chardonnay was loved by many; a balance of bright fruit, fresh acidity and new French oak. Sadly, the southern Heathcote vines that produced that fruit were pulled out in the winter of 2020 so I could no longer make that wine.

This wine pays homage to its predecessor. It's textural and full bodied, with subtle new oak undertones and a lingering finish. It's richer and more traditional than its "Sur Lie" sister, but still carries similar fruit characters.

Handpicked on 17 March 2024, the whole bunches were pressed to French barriques for ferment. The ferment lasted just over 3 weeks. Partial (30%) malolactive fermentation was allowed in the wine, to enhance roundness and secondary notes. Aged for 9 months in French barriques, 30% of which was new French (Vicard) oak. The wine was not filtered or fined at bottling in mid-December 2024.

Region: Bendigo

Sub-region: Faraday