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Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
This site is always first cab off the rank for picking at Garagiste, and can be harvested as early as two weeks before Merricks—highlighting the impact of aspect for grape growing on the Peninsula. Like the Merricks Chardonnay, this was hand-harvested, hand-sorted and whole-bunch pressed, followed by natural primary fermentation with high levels of solids in François Frères 500-litre puncheons (20% new). A small portion went through natural malolactic fermentation and the wine then rested on full gross lees for 10 months before bottling. lithe and elegant but not lacking in lean muscle. It’s saline and mineral driven, with pithy grapefruit and summer citrus rippling through a tightly coiled structure. There’s a doughy/leesy character that lends complexity and mouthfeel, and the balance struck here with the mineral and citric drive is on point. It finishes with power and drive. Pair with sashimi or butter chicken.
Varietal / Blend: Chardonnay
Decant: Not necessary
Closure: Screw cap
Farming Practices: Sustainable
Anyone with even a passing interest in cool-climate Australia will already know that Garagiste is one of the Mornington Peninsula’s brightest rising stars. Barnaby Flanders created the Garagiste label following his amicable split with Allies co-founder David Chapman (who continues with the Allies label). ‘Barney’ now focuses on a snug range of small-batch wines from fruit sourced from the highly prized Merricks Grove vineyard, the Silverwood vineyard (Balnarring), and the Hugh Robinson vineyard in Moorooduc. Garagiste, the main label, is ably supported by delicious entry-level wines under the Le Stagiaire banner. Barnaby and Cam (Marshall) manage all aspects of the viticulture and winemaking themselves and a range of succulent, finely tuned and elegantly crafted cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is what results.
