2015 Mornington Peninsula, Single Block Release, Block 6 Chardonnay, Yabby Lake Vineyard
About Producer
Founded in 1998, Yabby Lake Vineyard is positioned on a north-facing slope that captures maximum daily sunshine and is refreshed by nightly cool sea breezes. Since 2008, the estate is conducting the ‘Single Block Release’ programme to explore the nuances of its vineyard and gain a deeper understanding of its character.
Varietals
Chardonnay. 2,473 bottles produced.
About Appellation
Surrounded on three sides by the sea and rippled with ridges and hills from volcanic activity during the Tertiary period between 20 and 40 million years ago, Mornington Peninsula is one of Victoria’s key wine regions, located to the South of the Melbourne metropolis. Vines were first planted on the Peninsula in 1886 but in the 1920s, many of the vineyards were abandoned or uprooted. The renaissance of the region’s wine industry began in 1972 under the aegis of a group of aspiring vignerons who recognised the potential of the unique maritime climate of the Mornington Peninsula for producing high quality cool climate varieties. Relatively high summer humidity combined with abundant sunshine hours and plentiful rainfall during winter and spring create perfect conditions for the region’s signature varieties pinot noir and chardonnay.
Tasting Notes
Fragrant nose of white stone fruits, citrus, subtle toasty oak, crushed chalk and white flowers, smooth mouthfeel with seamless texture, fine structure and excellent tension, oodles of flavours of crisp white peach, grapefruit, melon, citrus oil, lemon rind and almond, racy acidity and flinty undertones carrying through a long, complex finish. From a 0.8ha north-facing parcel with easterly inclination on light medium clay soil and ironstone rock planted with chardonnay in 1999, this is a delightful wine with graceful poise, refined minerality and remarkable depth of flavours. Quite redolent of a great Chablis premier cru - I can think of Montée de Tonnerre or Vaulorent, it’s very well-defined and deliciously intense yet stunningly sleek and delicate. I particularly love the thrilling lift on the palate that lingers vivaciously throughout the aftertaste. (09/2023)