Steve Flamsteed and Brad Rogers are only a couple of vintages into this project, but it's already shaping up as one of the most exciting on the Apple Isle.
The approach hasn’t shifted from the stunning Decades debut - farm beautiful fruit, keep the winemaking simple, and let this Coal River Valley site do the talking. The 2024 season made life pretty easy. It was long and cool, with enough rain at the right moments to keep the vines humming along, and a slow build of flavour that let the fruit hang out until everything was in the pocket.
The fruit was hand picked and sorted, then whole bunch pressed straight into large seasoned French oak for wild ferment. Half the barrels went through malo, which keeps the wine in that citrusy, taut frame while still adding a bit of softness from the lees work. The small crop of 2024 also meant arguably a bit more texture and flavour concentration than the debut release.
What you get in the glass is a really calm, mineral-driven style with plenty of fruit presence but no heaviness. It’s subtle, balanced and very much a classic Flamsteed Chardonnay. Only 200 cartons made, so it’ll disappear quickly.