Garagiste Terre Maritime Chardonnay 2021 750ml

The Terre Maritime is drawn from a few rows of Chardonnay in the top corner of Merricks Grove. Barney Flanders has always felt this parcel could result in a superb and unique Chardonnay—in this part of the vineyard, the 25-year-old vines are rooted in brown soils rather than the more common reddish dirt of the area. The parcel also faces slightly east, offering the vines a cooler, more sheltered aspect. There is therefore less vigour than in the rest of the vineyard, and the bunches are a touch smaller. As a result, the fruit from this parcel tends to make a wine that has real power and intensity, without forgoing the finesse we associate with Garagiste Chardonnay.

This is another fabulous Chardonnay, with a captivating bouquet of orange citrus and orchard fruits, chalky minerality, white florals and perfectly pitched smoky reduction. The palate has a potent core; power, density and fleshy weight are matched by coiled acidity, phenolic grip and a long-reaching, spicy, savoury finish. In a word: exceptional.