Kooyong Farrago Chardonnay 2022

This single-block wine is sourced from 0.7 ha of 24-year-old, gently sloping Chardonnay vines within the 2.76 ha Farrago block. The mottled clay soil here contains a high percentage of ironstone pebbles, similar to the Ferrous vineyard. This siliceous influence gives the wine its signature linearity and minerality. The fruit was gently whole-bunch pressed directly into French oak barriques (20% new), with fermentation starting spontaneously using ambient yeasts. After fermentation, the wine aged on lees (without battonage) for 11 months and was racked only once, right before bottling. It was bottled without fining and underwent minimal filtration.

The 2022 Farrago is intensely aromatic and complex, with notes of grapefruit skin, citrus blossom, and white stone fruit. Flecks of gun flint, biscuit dough, and yogurt cream add depth, framed by subtle oak spice. The palate is expansive, featuring grapefruit citrus and blood orange pith alongside a mineral-edged acid line. Fine phenolics provide structure, while a creamy mid-palate sweetness adds texture. The finish is pure, long, and mouth-watering. Though excellent now, this wine will also benefit from time in the cellar.