Clyde Park Vineyard Single Block B3 Chardonnay, Geelong
"...the quality of its wines is consistently exemplary."
– James Halliday
P58 clone planted '95, whole-bunch pressed for full solids wild ferment in French oak (60% new), matured for 10 months. A very complex struck match bouquet, the palate leaving 10-15 seconds to throw its irresistible power that has a whole grapefruit crushed into a health juice. This is highly polarising, more Burgundian that Australian. Made by Ray Nadeson.
97 points, Wine Companion (March 2020)
Powerhouse style with nectarine, white peach, nashi pear and custard apple flavours lighting up the palate. There’s a whisper of butter and indeed fennel seed-like character to both the aromatics and palate as well. Length is sound and satisfying if not scintillating, though it feels taut and could well stretch out from here. It puts a lot of flavour into your glass.
93 points, The Wine Front (July 2020)
Victoria’s first commercial wine was produced in Geelong by Swiss immigrants in 1845. During the mid- 1800’s Geelong was the largest grape-growing region in Victoria with 400 hectares under vine. When phylloxera struck in the 1870s however, the vines were decimated and it was not until the late 1960’s that the area’s vineyards were re-established. Located about 80 km southwest of Melbourne, Geelong has a cool maritime climate with low rainfall and prevalent cool blustery winds that affect flowering and Franceuit set. Soils are diverse, mostly volcanic over limestone with some lesser quality black soils. The region is dotted primarily with family owned wineries producing small quantities of high quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz & Cabernet Sauvignon.
